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With simply three weeks to go till the Nitto ATP Finals, gamers proceed to jockey for place within the Pepperstone ATP Dwell Race To Turin. This week will see two ATP 500s present alternatives for motion, with motion on the Erste Bank Open in Vienna and the Swiss Indoors Basel.
Daniil Medvedev, who has already certified for Turin, is about to guide the Vienna discipline as the highest seed and defending champion. He might be joined by fellow Prime 10 stars Jannik Sinner, Andrey Rublev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev. Holger Rune is the best-placed of many Turin hopefuls in Basel, the place Prime 10 gamers Casper Ruud and Taylor Fritz will even compete.
ATPTour.com seems at 5 issues to observe at each occasions.
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN VIENNA
1) Defending Champ Medvedev: Medvedev gained the second of his two 2022 titles in Vienna 12 months in the past. He enters the ATP 500 with 5 tour-level trophies to his title in 2023 — although he has not claimed a crown since his shock Could run on the clay of Rome. He’ll start his match in opposition to in-form #NextGenATP Frenchman Arthur Fils.
2) Can Sinner Convey Beijing Greatest?: Jannik Sinner gained his third title of 2023 earlier this month in Beijing after which certified for his debut on the Nitto ATP Finals with a gap win in Shanghai. Coming into Vienna at a career-high Pepperstone ATP Rating of World No. 4, Sinner will bid for his tenth profession tour-level title. The second seed this version, the Italian reached the Vienna semi-finals in 2021.
3) Rublev, Tsitsipas, Zverev Can Inch Nearer To Turin: Rublev, Tsitsipas and Zverev occupy fifth, sixth and seventh place within the Pepperstone ATP Dwell Race To Turin. Because the three highest-placed males who’ve but to clinch qualification, all three have a giant alternative in Vienna. They may hope to affix the already-qualified Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Medvedev and Sinner on the Nitto ATP Finals.
They’re seeded third via fifth in Vienna, the place Rublev triumphed in 2020 and Zverev lifted the trophy in 2021.
4) Individuals Paul, Tiafoe Amongst Chasing Pack: Presently on the surface wanting in for a spot in Turin, Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe may begin a late surge with a deep run in Vienna. Sixth seed Paul will attempt to safe his first win in Vienna in opposition to a qualifier, and seventh seed Tiafoe will face a tough take a look at in opposition to Briton Daniel Evans.
5) Koolhof/Skupski Lead Doubles Discipline: Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski, the second-placed group within the Pepperstone ATP Dwell Doubles Groups Rankings, would be the prime seeds in an intriguing Vienna doubles draw that additionally consists of Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury, Individuals Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow, and defending champions (and residential favourites) Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler.
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN BASEL
1) Rune Continues Quest For Turin Debut: Rune reached the title match final yr in Basel, a part of a run of 4 straight finals to shut the 2022 season that included titles in Stockholm and Paris. This yr, the Dane hopes to complete his season on the Nitto ATP Finals. He’s at the moment eighth within the Pepperstone ATP Dwell Race To Turin, clinging to the ultimate qualifying spot by 145 factors over ninth-placed Fritz.
Having gained one match since Wimbledon, Rune will hope to search out his type on the Swiss ATP 500 as he battles to take care of his place. The Dane additionally introduced up to now week that he has hired a new coach: Boris Becker.
2) Fritz, Ruud Additionally In Turin Hunt: Final yr on the Nitto ATP Finals, Ruud reached the ultimate and Fritz made the semis in his debut. Each gamers are at the moment on the surface wanting in, however may make their transfer in Basel.
Fritz made the quarter-finals at this match in 2018, and can hope for a deeper run this version, starting with a conflict in opposition to Max Purcell. Second seed Ruud will look to bounce again from an early defeat to Marcos Giron in Tokyo. Final yr because the second seed in Basel, he was overwhelmed by residence favorite Stan Wawrinka within the opening spherical. He’ll face a troublesome opening problem in opposition to Alexander Bublik.
3) Can Hurkacz Recapture Shanghai Kind?: Hubert Hurkacz stepped up his late bid to achieve Turin by profitable the Rolex Shanghai Masters title two weeks in the past, saving a match level to beat Andrey Rublev within the remaining. However he was overwhelmed three days later by Zhang Zhizhen within the Tokyo opening spherical.
With just a few days off earlier than he returns to motion in Europe, can Hurkacz get again to the extent that noticed him soar in Shanghai? The Pole enters the week eleventh within the Dwell Race, 335 factors behind Rune.
4) De Minaur Seeks Fifth Remaining: Fifth seed Aussie Alex de Minaur reached a career-high Pepperstone ATP Rating of No. 11 earlier this month on the energy of 4 remaining appearances this season, together with a title in Acapulco. One other deep run may increase the 24-year-old’s hopes of qualifying for his debut on the Nitto ATP Finals. Presently thirteenth within the Dwell Race, he’ll want a deep run in Switzerland, the place he’ll open in opposition to Diego Schwartzman.
5) Residence Favorite Wawrinka Set For sixteenth Basel Look: Swiss legend Wawrinka has compiled a 15-14 document throughout 15 earlier showings in Basel. He reached the quarter-finals in every of his previous three appearances (2016, 2019, 2022) and twice reached the semis, in 2006 and 2011. The house hero will start his occasion in opposition to a qualifier.
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