This week’s ATP event in Hong Kong isn’t as strong as Brisbane on paper, but it is a balanced draw that will produce plenty of tight and exciting matches. This second day will feature many such matches, with a great mix of young players looking to climb up the rankings and veterans looking to climb back up the rankings, including Nuno Borges vs Yunchaokete Bu.
As always, we at LWOT have the preview and prediction for every match on the ATP Hong Kong slate. But who will advance?
Head-to-head: first meeting
This is a very difficult match to call, with both players having quite similar levels, even if Muller has been more consistent recently. Huesler has actually made it through qualifying to get to this main draw, and he played some very nice tennis; in such a tight matchup, that extra momentum might just make the difference in favor of Huesler.
Prediction: Huesler in 3
Head-to-head: first meeting
Diallo had a very good end of 2024, even reaching the final in Almaty, proving that he can go much higher than his current ranking of #87. Carballes Baena, on the other hand, had a rough end in 2024 and generally struggles to produce results outside of clay. In these conditions, Diallo should have quite a clear edge.
Prediction: Diallo in 2
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Head-to-head: Shang 1-0 Wong
Both are young, developing players, but Shang is far more advanced despite a tough ending of 2024 (with five consecutive losses to bookend it) after his great run to the title in Chennai. In 2025, Shang should see a further rise in the rankings and start competing more consistently for titles. This matchup is likely to go the same way as their previous one, which Shang won in a relatively routine fashion last year in Shanghai.
Prediction: Shang in 2
Head-to-head: Borges 2-0 Bu
Borges had an amazing 2024, winning a first career title, making the fourth round of a Grand Slam twice, and going as high as #30 in the rankings, but he finished with four consecutive losses and was generally inconsistent, alternating strong runs with routine first-round losses. Bu certainly has the talent to make this very competitive, it should be an extremely close match decided by small details.
Prediction: Borges in 3
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey – USA TODAY Sports
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