The ATP Tour returns to the clay this week at the Generali Open in Kitzbühel. Who will slide their way to victory in Austria?
ATPTour.com looks at some of the biggest storylines to watch leading into the ATP 250.
1) Top-Seeded Fabio: Fabio Fognini will play a tournament for the first time since the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in February. The Italian, who owns a 5-4 record in Kitzbühel, underwent arthroscopic surgery on both ankles in May.
2) Diego Back On Clay: Diego Schwartzman suffered a disappointing five-set loss in the first round of the US Open against Cameron Norrie. The Argentine will try to shake off those memories as the clay-court season begins. Schwartzman, the second seed, won the biggest title of his career on clay at 2018 Rio de Janeiro and he will be competing in Kitzbühel for the first time since 2015.
3) Kei Is Back: Former World No. 4 Kei Nishikori will be in action for the first time since last year’s US Open. The Japanese superstar underwent right elbow surgery last October. He will pursue his third clay-court crown. Nishikori will also play doubles alongside countryman Yoshihito Nishioka.
4) Milan Champ: Jannik Sinner, the 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals champion, will make his Kitzbühel debut. The Italian battled hard at the US Open, falling just short against 11th seed Karen Khachanov. Sinner launches his efforts in Austria against two-time champion Philipp Kohlschreiber.
5) Flying Finn: Another #NextGenATP star in the field is the rapidly rising Emil Ruusuvuori. This time last year, the Finnish star had just cracked the Top 200 of the FedEx ATP Rankings and never played an ATP Tour main draw. Now he is into the Top 100 and will look to continue his climb against a qualifier.
6) Two-Time Champ: Kohlschreiber triumphed in Kitzbühel in 2015 and 2017, defeating the likes of Dominic Thiem and Fognini during those runs. The 36-year-old holds a 19-10 record at the ATP 250.
7) Fresh From New York: Jordan Thompson enjoyed the best run of his Grand Slam career at the US Open, advancing to the fourth round. The Aussie was unable to defeat Borna Coric in the Round of 16, but he will try to get back on track against countryman John Millman.
8) Home Favourites: Two of the tournament’s singles wild cards went to Austrians: Dennis Novak and Sebastian Ofner. Novak will play a qualifier and Ofner will face Moldovan Radu Albot.
9) Strong Doubles: The top seeds in the doubles draw are 2019 Coupe Rogers champions Marcel Granollers/Horacio Zeballos, and the second seeds are 2019 Nitto ATP Finals competitors Ivan Dodig and Filip Polasek. Austrian veterans Oliver Marach and Jurgen Melzer are the third seeds.
10) Impressive Qualifying Field: Ten players in the qualifying draw are inside the world’s Top 100. World No. 69 Pierre-Hugues Herbert, who advanced to the second round of qualifying by defeating American Maxime Cressy on Monday, is the top seed.
from Tennis - ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/2ZhyYcT
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