The draw for the men’s side of the China Open was held today.
Rafael Nadal is the 2nd seed and landed in the bottom half of the draw in Milos Raonic’s half. His first opponent will be Paolo Lorenzi from Italy.
Rafa’s potential route to the final:
- 1st round: Paolo Lorenzi
- 2nd round: Albert Ramos-Vinolas
- Quarter-final: Lucas Pouille
- Semi-final: Milos Raonic
- Final: Andy Murray
Projected quarterfinals:
- Andy Murray vs Roberto Bautista Agut
- Dominic Thiem vs David Ferrer
- Richard Gasquet vs Milos Raonic
- Lucas Pouille vs Rafael Nadal
Rafa won this hard-court tournament, part of the ATP Tour’s late-season Asian swing, as a teenager in 2005 and reached the final in 2013 and 2015.
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has been forced to withdraw from China Open due to an elbow injury.
China Open tennis is live from Beijing from 3-9 October.
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
I like your 6-1, 6-1 win Rafa v Lorenzi. I hope you can do the same vs Pouille.
RAFA ROCKS
On her podcast, Catherine Whitaker said she was driving on Lower Richmond Road in Putney when she saw a huge ATP World Tour Finals poster. Usually at this time of year only the first five players are listed, she said, but this poster listed all eight, even though only three are confirmed. She gave the ATP benefit of the doubt saying they must already know who the eight will be. She obviously doesn’t think that Berdych can catch Rafa. I hope she is correct.
Good going Rafa and Carrena-Busta, in straight sets 7(7)-6(3), 6-4. The three other doubles matches all went to three sets. Conserve that energy for the final!