Day 4 at the ATP 250 in Hangzhou will see the conclusion of the Round of 16, with four matches featuring some big names like former Grand Slam champion Marin Cilic, who is looking to make a comeback after a lengthy injury period, and Holger Rune, trying to get some confidence and momentum back after a very disappointing 2024 so far.
ATP Hangzhou Day 4 Predictions
Roberto Carballes Baena vs Mitchell Krueger
Head-to-head: Carballes Baena 1-0 Krueger
Carballes Baena is on a nice winning streak, having won the Seville Challenger a couple weeks ago and the first round here already; meanwhile, Krueger is actually in the main draw as a lucky loser, so lucky indeed that he even got a first round bye. Based on current form and general consistency, Baena should have a slight edge even on a hard court.
Prediction: Carballes Baena in 3
Holger Rune vs Yasutaka Uchiyama
Head-to-head: first meeting
Rune has been having a very disappointing season thus far, but he is still one of the best and most promising young players in the world facing the world #160 here. Rune will see this tournament as an opportunity to get some much needed confidence and maybe even a title, and he’s very unlikely to be serious troubled by Uchiyama here.
Prediction: Rune in 2
Zhizhen Zhang vs Mattia Bellucci
Head-to-head: Zhang 1-0 Bellucci
It should be a very tight match; Zhang won easily when they faced in Miami last year, but Bellucci has improved a lot since. Zhang is still the overall better player at this point, however, and playing at home could well give him enough of an advantage to pull through in key junctures here and advance to the next round.
Prediction: Zhang in 3
Marin Cilic vs Yoshihito Nishioka
Head-to-head: Cilic 1-0 Nishioka
Cilic had a nice return to the ATP tour with a first round over Svajda, but Nishioka is likely to be a much sterner challenge. The Japanese usually plays very well during this time of the season and his speed and consistency from the back of the court mean it is very difficult to beat him if your groundstrokes aren’t sharp and Cilic’s lack of reps at this point might be his undoing here.
Prediction: Nishioka in 3
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
