The second day of the ATP 500 in Beijing is bound to produce more fireworks as more of the top seeds look to progress to the next round. Quite a few juicy matchups coming up but we look at four of the best. We also look at the rest of the day’s matches in two other articles, featuring Daniil Medvedev vs Tommy Paul and Carlos Alcaraz vs Yannick Hanfmann.
ATP Beijing Day 2 Predictions
Juncheng Shang vs Yoshihito Nishioka
Chinese teen Juncheng Shang will probably be more motivated to win this match but Nishioka is simply the more experienced and better player. The Japanese will look to go one step further in Beijing than he did in Zhuhai, where he lost in straight sets to Karen Khachanov. He beat more formidable opponents on the way to the final and Shang shouldn’t be much of an obstacle.
Predictions: Nishioka in 2
Dan Evans vs Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner has not played a tennis ball since his quarterfinal loss to Alexander Zverev at the US Open but he’s not lost consecutive matches in 2023! The Italian has had a breakout season and he’ll be looking to consolidate his position for the European swing to end the year.
Dan Evans can compete with anyone on his day, especially on hardcourts but Sinner is miles ahead. Depending on the Evans that comes to court, it could be close, or it could be a walk in the park for the Italian.
Prediction: Sinner in 2
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Karen Khachanov vs Lorenzo Musetti
This has all the undertone of a blockbuster written all over it with two intense servers closely ranked but with different results on hard courts. While the match is dressed like it can go the distance, the truth is there’s only one player who could win this and he rightly starts as the favorite. Khachanov won the title in Zhuhai a few days ago and there’s no reason he should bottle this.
Prediction: Khachanov in 2
Jan-Lennard Struff vs Casper Ruud
German Jan-Lennard Struff will go into this match in Beijing brimming with confidence as he’s outclassed the Norwegian each time they’ve met. In fact, not once has Ruud nicked him, in four attempts. This time might bring the much-needed rude awakening for Casper if he can manage to replicate his dominant win over Tommy Paul in the Laver Cup a week ago.
Struff himself has been in stuttering form since his loss to Tiafoe in Stuttgart and will be looking to make it five out of five over this opponent. He’ll have to surrender a match to the Norwegian at some point and this looks like it. Ruud has more experience on hard courts under his belt and I think this will go the wire.
Prediction: Ruud in 3
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
