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After witnessing some quality performances at the US Open, St Petersburg Open and the Laver Cup, the focus now shifts to the China Open 2019, which starts tomorrow. ATP events have always been the perfect platform for some of the higher-ranked players to prepare for Grand Slams. ATP events also provide an opportunity for some lesser-known players to fine-tune their skills and prepare for bigger challenges.
It allows these players to improve their rankings and get some much-needed matches to practise before any important tournament. The China Open will be no different.
The Big 3 of the tennis world (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic) will not be taking part in this event. But there are a host of talented players who can make an impact in Beijing.
Last year’s China Open was won by Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili and this year the event looks more competitive due to the participation of some of the top players.
We take a look at 5 players who can potentially win the event:
#1 Dominic Thiem
Dominic Thiem is considered to be the next shining star in tennis circles. The 26-year-old produced some decent performances last year by winning the Lyon Open in May and finished runner-up at the Madrid Masters in the same month, where he lost to Alexander Zverev in the final.
The Austrian also finished runner-up to Rafael Nadal at the French Open last year, besides winning the St Petersburg Open and ATP Buenos Aires.
Thiem continued that stellar form to add titles in Indian Wells, Barcelona and Kitzbuhel this year. His destructive forehands combined with his solid groundstrokes can trouble any opponent. His pace has outdone many opponents, while his topspin strokes are quite effective during the run of play.
Thiem’s calmness helps him during pressure situations, which the Austrian had said helps him focus whenever he plays a tricky opponent. His single-handed backhands have always been his main strength.
#2 Alexander Zverev
Alexander Zverev has been touted as the next big thing in the tennis circuit for quite some time, but the German hasn’t lived up to the expectations after showing a lot of early promise. Many think that the German may need some more time to develop the temperament one needs to excel in pressure situations, especially in the knockout rounds when he tends to get a bit nervous.
The 22-year-old won the Madrid Masters in May last year by beating Dominic Thiem in the final and was the runner-up at the Miami Masters and Rome Masters. He also won the Bavarian International Tennis Championships and the Washington Open in the same year before his crowning glory came at the ATP Finals at the end of the season.
This year he has struggled for a major part of the season and his solitary title so far came on the claycourts of Geneva. After a good show at the Laver Cup, a rejuvenated Zverev will hope to impress at the China Open too.
Zverev's big serves can outclass his rivals while his backhand strokes are considered to be his main strength. It is an area where the German can be a big threat for anybody on the opposite side of the net.
#3 Stefanos Tsitsipas
Stefanos Tsitsipas is the torchbearer of Greek tennis and is a player who has the talent to achieve superstar status in the sport. The 21-year-old has caught everyone’s eye with some fine performances and can surprise some of the big stars.
Tsitsipas can play long rallies and his deceptive moves can trouble his opponents during the run of play. Tsitsipas made it to the final of the Madrid Masters in May this year where he lost to Novak Djokovic in the final. He also made it to the semi-finals of the Italian Open, besides being crowned the champion at the Estoril Open.
Tsitsipas's big achievement was at the 2019 Australian Open, where he made it to the semi-finals by beating Roger Federer in the quarters.
The Greek is known for his precise baseline game and superb forehands. Tsitsipas is equally good at the net but tends to get erratic while playing against top-ranked players.
Though Tsitsipas has shown lots of promise, the rising star needs to learn to handle pressure situations better at crucial stages of important tournaments.
#4 Gael Monfils
Gael Monfils is another player who hasn’t done justice to his immense talent. The Frenchman won the Rotterdam Open in February and was a quarter-finalist at the US Open this year.
His athleticism has always been outstanding which makes him a treat to watch any time he is on the court. When he is on song, his sublime baseline game is good enough to unsettle his opponents. Monfils's brilliant groundstrokes during the run of play and his exceptional dropshots make it difficult for his rivals to read his play.
Monfils can also cover a lot of ground with his reach and quick moves. The 33-year-old's fast serves are also a big weapon for him which will make him dangerous on the fast courts at the China Open.
#5 Fabio Fognini
Fabio Fognini is one of those players who can pack a punch when he is in his prime. It is surprising why he has not been able to make his mark given the talent he possesses.
The Italian won the Monte Carlo Masters this year in April for his maiden ATP Masters 1000 triumph. Fognini underlined his talent further in that tournament when he beat Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals.
The Italian can bring a surprise element in his game due to his unpredictability. The 32-year-old is quite good with his deceptive dropshots and can be a tricky player at the net. He has also shown his sharpness with his highly accurate baseline game when he is feeling confiden
His forehands can also make a lot of damage especially on clay and hard courts, which is why he should be very much considered among the potential winners of this ATP 500 tournament.
