[ad_1]
HONG KONG:
World quantity 5 Andrey Rublev will start his 2024 season on the Hong Kong Open when the ATP Tour returns to town for the primary time in additional than 20 years, organisers mentioned Tuesday.
The 26-year-old Russian will probably be joined by Grand Slam semi-finalists Frances Tiafoe and Karen Khachanov for the January 1-7 occasion at Victoria Park, an necessary warm-up for the Australian Open.
Males final competed for the Hong Kong Open in 2002 and former champions embody Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Pat Money, Ivan Lendl and Jimmy Connors.
Australian nice Rod Laver gained the inaugural version in 1973.
The fiery Rublev, who will probably be high seed, gained two titles this yr, at Bastad in Sweden and Monte Carlo.
American world quantity 16 Tiafoe rose to prominence on the 2022 US Open, the place he misplaced an epic five-set semi-final to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz, having knocked out Rafael Nadal within the final 16.
Russia’s Khachanov additionally has current Grand Slam pedigree.
He additionally reached the semi-finals of the US Open in 2022, dropping to Casper Ruud, and obtained to the final 4 of this yr’s Australian Open the place he misplaced to Stefanos Tsitsipas.
“I am wanting ahead to serving to deliver again ATP Tour pleasure to town for the primary time for the reason that early 2000s,” mentioned Khachanov.
Veteran Croat and 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic will start his harm comeback on the occasion.
The 35-year-old had knee surgical procedure after struggling harm in January this yr and solely performed one match on tour subsequently in 2023, sliding to 666th on this planet.
[ad_2]
