A few picks from the Hangzhou Open first round today, with pleasant conditions out there in China and three matchups that all look genuinely tight on paper. All first meetings, all hard court, and all three go three sets in our view. Let's get into it.
Hangzhou Open Predictions
Mattia Bellucci vs Kamil Majchrzak
Head-to-head: First meeting
Majchrzak has had a quietly solid 2024 and his ranking around 73 reflects that consistency. Bellucci is an interesting player with some good results of his own, but on a fast hard court Majchrzak's flat ball-striking tends to give him an edge in tight matches. This feels like the kind of three-setter where neither player is particularly dominant but Majchrzak finds a way when it matters.
Prediction: Majchrzak in 3
Valentin Royer vs Adam Walton
Head-to-head: First meeting
Royer is ranked just above Walton here but the Australian has been one of the more consistent players in this part of the rankings over the past year and hard courts suit him better than Royer. Royer is more of a clay-court guy and the surface in Hangzhou isn't going to do him any favors. That said, Walton gets through, but not without being pushed.
Prediction: Walton in 3
Aleksandar Vukic vs Kyrian Jacquet
Head-to-head: First meeting
Vukic is the higher-ranked player and has decent hard court results, so this one is a bit of a surprise pick. But Jacquet has been playing better than his ranking suggests lately and Vukic, who hasn't exactly set the tour alight this season, hasn't been tearing up the tour. The conditions are neutral enough that either player could take it and I think Jacquet nics it in three, all things considered.
Prediction: Jacquet in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Stephane Thomas/ZUMA Press Wire