An intriguing second-round matchup in Beijing will take place on Wednesday, when Grigor Dimitrov goes up against Juan Martin Del Potro. Nick Kyrgios and Mischa Zverev are also aiming for a place in the quarterfinals.
(3) Grigor Dimitrov vs. (WC) Juan Martin Del Potro
Dimitrov and Del Potro will be squaring off for the seventh time in their careers when they collide in round two of the China Open on Wednesday. Del Potro is dominating the head-to-head series 5-1, but it is a more competitive 3-1 on hard courts and Dimitrov took their most recent encounter 6-3, 7-5 this summer in Cincinnati. The eighth-ranked Bulgarian went on to capture the Cincinnati title–the biggest of his career–but lost to Andrey Rublev in the U.S. Open second round. Dimitrov kicked off his Beijing campaign on Tuesday by beating a red-hot Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 on Tuesday.
Del Potro punched his ticket to the last 16 thanks to a 7-6(4), 6-4 victory over Pablo Cuevas. The 24th-ranked Argentine is 24-12 this season and coming off a semifinal run in New York, where he ousted Dominic Thiem and Roger Federer before succumbing to eventual champion Rafael Nadal. A well-rested Del Potro will likely once again have too much firepower for Dimitrov, but not before a competitive and entertaining battle ensues.
Pick: Del Potro in 3
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(8) Nick Kyrgios vs. Mischa Zverev
It will be a rematch of bizarre Shanghai meeting almost exactly one year ago, when Kyrgios blatantly tanked in a 6-3, 6-1 first-round loss to the elder Zverev brother. That came right after Kyrgios had won the Japan Open, and this season the 19th-ranked Australian has taken his talents from Tokyo to Beijing. That decision started of well, as Kyrgios took care of Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-1, 6-2 on Tuesday. The 22-year-old is now 28-14 in 2017 but he is still in search of his first winner’s trophy.
Zverev owns a 28-27 record this season, which began in incredible fashion with a shocking quarterfinal showing at the Australian Open. The 27th-ranked German also reached the U.S. Open fourth round, but his fall swing is off to an unspectacular start. Zverev retired from his Metz semifinal match against Peter Gojowcyczk and then lost his Shenzhen opener last week to Dudi Sela. Kyrgios will surely want to make amends for his 2016 performance against the veteran and he should be able to do so in relatively swift fashion.
Pick: Kyrgios in 2
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WWW?
Kyrgios in two and Dimitrov in three
Ben why Dimi in 3(what adv’s does he have) and not Delpo in 3 or a Delpo win?
I don’t have a coin to flip? All money in the bank!lol
Kyrgios in two, Del Potro in three
Kyrgios in two, Del Potro in three
Mischa is playing good tennis against Nick and he’s up a break in set one (5-3), Mischa to serve to close out first set.
Could this be another match with “against inferior player” that Nick cannot overcome?
Nice balling from Nick to win the 2nd set. Let’s see if he can carry that momentum in the 3rd set.