Andrey Rublev, who is on course for a second consecutive appearance in the NextGen ATP Finals, will face Italian veteran Fabio Fognini in the Beijing second round on Thursday. Fognini finished runner-up last week in Chengdu.
This will be the third encounter between Fabio Fognini and Andrey Rublev on Thursday at the China Open. Fognini won the first two meetings in 2015 when Rublev was still a teenager, while the Russian won their most recent contest on the clay courts of Umag.
Fognini is currently ranked 13th in the world, matching his career-high that he first reached back in 2014. His rankings points come largely on the dirt, by far his most preferred surface. That Rublev took a tough three-setter over the Italian in their last meeting won’t be a comfort to the veteran.
Rublev is well off his career-high ranking of No. 31 back in February of this year. Except for a semifinal showing in Washington, D.C. in the early stages of the summer hard-court swing, the Russian has endured quite a disappointing second half of the year. Prior to this tournament–and his first-round win over Joao Sousa–he had lost five matches in a row dating back to Toronto in early August.
Fognini dropped a first-set breadstick to Moldovan qualifier Radu Albot, who is ranked 102nd in the world. The veteran’s form so far this week would suggest that Rublev has a decent shot at the upset, but Fognini should still have enough left in the tank after a long season to dispatch the youngster.
Cheryl pick: Fognini in 3
Ricky pick: Fognini in 3
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who ya got?
Fognini in 3