The opening week of action on the ATP Tour brings out a host of top players as they take advantage of the limited opportunity they have to tune up for the 2019 Australian Open. Here’s a summary of what to expect at the 250s in Brisbane, Doha, and Pune.
ATP Brisbane
Rafael Nadal is the top attraction in Brisbane, if he doesn’t withdrawal as part of his health and fitness management regime to prepare to be at his best for the Grand Slams. Nadal should draw attention in his first match as Thanasi Kokkinakis, a home hero, or former Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga would be first up. The winner of that match is certain to face an Australian in the quarterfinals, with rising star Alex De Minaur the most likely contender. Also in the top half are Milos Raonic and Andy Murray, former top 10 players who have been sidelined by injuries in recent months, and young Russian Daniil Medvedev. Raonic or Murray would love a hot start but Medvedev is the semifinal favorite.
The Bottom half features Kei Nishikori looking to get off to a hot start in 2019, he should face either John Millman, a home player, or Grigor Dimitrov, who is seeking form after a rough 2018 where he fell out of the top level of the game. Nick Kyrgios and British #1 Kyle Edmund should meet in the quarterfinals as well. Kyrgios is dealing with a spider bite as he seeks to defend his title while Edmund has an AO semifinal defense coming up quickly.
I don’t expect much from Nadal, Murray, Raonic, or Dimitrov this outing, and Kyrgios is inconsistent. That sets up one of Kei Nishikori, Kyle Edmund, or Daniil Medvedev as the most likely winner.
ATP Doha
Novak Djokovic, the World #1, is the main attraction in Doha as he’ll stay in the Middle East to continue his AO preparations. Djokovic had an amazing year to return to world #1 in 2018 and I firmly expect him to reach at least the semifinals with relative ease, as his competition is far from elite. #5 seed Nikoloz Basilashvili is in line to face him in the quarters.
33 year old Stan Wawrinka is hoping to be back in the top 50 soon, the former slam champion is not going to be happy about facing in-form Russian Karen Khachanov first up though. Wawrinka is a bigger name but Khachanov has the bigger (and better) game right now. Look for Khachanov to beat Wawrinka and Roberto Bautista Agut to reach the semis against Djokovic.
Often forgotten, David Goffin is favored to reach the semis past Marco Cecchinato and some other ho-hum hard court players. The final section of the draw should be of interest, with #2 seed Dominic Thiem potentially facing Fernando Verdasco, Philipp Kohlschreiber, or Tomas Berdych. A back injury cost Berdych a productive 2018 and he considered retirement at one point. Verdasco and Kohli continue to grind away credible results, but regardless of who emerges, Thiem would be favored to reach the final, with Djokovic or Khachanov most likely to lift the title.
ATP Pune
The only ATP tournament in India is always overlooked, but it should feature some good tennis. Kevin Anderson had a career 2018 and his form should lift him into the semifinals or better against weak competition. Veteran Gilles Simon should beat countryman Benoit Paire before falling to Anderson in the semis, and the similarly resurgent Malek Jaziri is favored to emerge from his section. Jaziri could be troubled by home favorite Prajnesh Gunneswaran. In the final section Hyeon Chung is favored to reach the final, but a first round match where two decades of age separate Ivo Karlovic and Canadian young gun Felix Auger Aliassime holds promise. A Chung vs FAA quarterfinal should be great and I expect Anderson over Chung in the final.
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