2016 ATP Shenzen

Khachanov Wins First ATP Title, Berdych Boosts London Chances
Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic

ATP Chengdu

20 year old Karen Khachanov has played just 17 tour level matches this year, but the young gun Russian now has his first ever ATP title after he came back from a set down to defeat veteran Albert Ramos in the Chengdu final. Khachanov battled hard to prevail 6-7 7-6 6-3. He looked at ease on the surface, and in front of a loud crowd. Ramos for his part was playing in his first final in four years. The 28 year old normally prefers clay, but he continues to move up the rankings despite the finals loss.

Khachanov beat Joao Sousa, Adrian Mannarino, Feliciano Lopez, and Viktor Troicki dropping a set only to Mannarino on the week. Expect to see much more from this young Russian next season.

Ramos defeated Michael Berrer and Rendy Lu in three sets, Dominic Thiem in a straight set upset, and Grigor Dimitrov in a third set tiebreak, as a hungry Dimitrov was denied his shot at an ATP title.

Raaven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram combined for the doubles title over Pablo Carreno Busta and Mariusz Fyrstenberg.

ATP Shenzen

Tomas Berdych captured his first ATP title of the season and boosted his chances of qualifying for the World Tour finals in London with a hard fought win over Richard Gasquet. Berdych won 7-6 6-7 6-3, as he had a chance to close the match out in straights, but failed to do so. Gasquet battled back, but slipped up when it mattered in the third set.

We’ll look ahead to London soon, but in the meantime click here for a great look at the odds for the favorites to take the World Tour finals.

Berdych beat Mikhail Kukushkin, Jiri Vesely, and Thomaz Bellucci last week, Gasquet beat Andrew Whittington and Mischa Zverev before getting a retirement against Janko Tipsarevic in the semis.

Fabio Fognini and Robert Lindstedt won the doubles title over Oliver Marach and Fabrice Martin.

2016 ATP Shenzen Preview and Predictions
Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic

The other ATP 250 this week takes place in Shenzen, China, it’s also a hard court tournament that is part of the 2016 Asian swing. Here is a preview with predictions.

Shenzen Open
ATP World Tour 250
September 26-October 2, 2016
Shenzen, China
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $641,305

Top 4 seeds (who all receive first round byes)
1: Tomas Berdych (9)
2: David Goffin (14)
3: Richard Gasquet (17)
4: Bernard Tomic (22)

Shenzen boasts three top 20 players and is another solid 250.

First round matchups to watch:

(Q)Ryan Harrison vs. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez

Harrison qualified after doing the same in Canada, and at the US Open. The American continues to flirt with being an ATP regular, while the Spanish veteran GGL has never beaten him (0-2) and is in the midst of a slump. Garcia-Lopez would love to break out of that slump in Asia, but Harrison should prevail.

(6)Benoit Paire vs. Nikoloz Basilashvili

Paire has a h2h win and should easily win this, but he’s been terrible in recent tournaments. The Frenchman has lost two straight and is just 2-5 in his last seven matches. Both come from Metz, where Basilashvili qualified and reached the round of 16. I’m still going with Paire, but he could lose control and get knocked off in this one.

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Top Half:

St. Petersburg semifinalist Tomas Berdych is 33-16 on the season and will face Mikhail Kukushkin or Lukas Rosol first up. Kukushkin isn’t fit and Rosol has been struggling, so Berdych should ease into the semis against Jiri Vesely, his Czech countryman. Presuming he’s fit Vesely should ease past dirtballer Pablo Andujar and either Inigo Cervantes or a young Akira Santillan in round 2. Berdych over Vesely is my pick for the quarters.

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St. Petersburg champ Alexander Zverev faces fellow young gun Yoshihito Nishioka in round 1. Fatigue could be a factor, but if Zverev isn’t jet lagged he should get past the struggling Japanese player. Bernard Tomic over Zverev is my pick for the quarters. The Aussie faces the Harrison vs. GGL winner in round 2, while Zverev will face Thomaz Bellucci or Gastao Elias, both of whom are struggling. A fresher Tomic should beat Zverev if he’s motivated.

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Bottom Half:

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Metz semifinalist David Goffin will face Malek Jaziri or Stephane Robert. Jaziri is in great form and Goffin should watch out. In the quarters it should be much easier as Janko Tipsarevic, who has struggled at the ATP level this year, is perhaps the favorite. The Serbian faces China’s Ze Zhang, with Paire/Basilashvili to follow in round 2. Goffin over Tipsarevic is my pick for the quarters.
Richard Gasquet has 26 wins on the season and should earn his 27th against qualifier Andrew Whittington, 7 seed Fabio Fognini beat Dudi Sela in round 1. Gasquet should face either Fognini or qualifier Mischa Zverev in the quarters. Zverev beat China’s Zhe Li in round 1. The elder Zverev is my pick over Fognini, and Gasquet over Mischa Zverev is my pick in the quarters.

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Dark Horse: Ryan Harrison

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If Harrison can knock off Tomic and Zverev, two players he should be able to matchup evenly with if he’s going to improve his ATP ranking, he’d be in the semis, and he could go as far as the final. His recent form is a good sign, but he can’t be trusted yet to perform when it counts.

Predictions

Semis
Tomic d. Berdych
Goffin d. Gasquet

Both players need a good showing in this 250 and they should beat veteran rivals in the semis. Both Gasquet and Berdych haven’t played their best this season.