First round matches at the 2019 ATP Japan Open continue on Monday, September 30 and you can get the Lucas Pouille v Herbert Hurkacz & Marin Cilic v Yuchi Sugita tips, previews and predictions below along with some others.
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Lucas Pouille v Herbert Hurkacz Predictions & Preview
This is the third meeting between Frenchman Lucas Pouille and rising Polish star Herbert Hurkacz.
Pouille was ranked in the top 10 in the world in 2018 and is aiming to get back to those heights, now ranked just outside the top 25. Hurkacz is an up and coming ‘Next Gen’ member, who won his first ever ATP title at Winston Salem right before the US Open.
The Frenchman has not managed to live up to his Australian Open semi-final showing at the start of the season, and will look to end his season on a strong note. Both players have met with early losses at the US Open and thereafter.
Interestingly, although Pouille is the higher ranked and more established player, Hurkacz has won both their previous meetings. They met on the Madrid Clay and Indian Wells hard courts earlier this year, with the Pole prevailing both times.
A good match on the cards, without a clear favorite, that will come down to a few key points. Pouille getting his name on the board in this match-up seems likely, in a tight three-set match.
Tip: Pouille to win: 10/11 with Unibet
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Marin Cilic v Yuichi Sugita Predictions & Preview
This is the first meeting between both players. Marin Cilic is a 2014 US Open winner, a former world number three, and a regular member of the top 10 in the world, until a drop in rankings this year. He has had a poor season, with injuries and disappointments and is now ranked number 28 in the world.
Japanese Yuichi Sugita has been on the tour for a while, but never reached a position of dominance on the tour. He is currently ranked 129th in the world and will look to home support in this match.
With Cilic determined to get form and results back in his favor, on suitable conditions, expect him to win in straight sets.
Tip: Cilic to win in straight sets: 7/10 with Unibet
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Yoshihito Nishioka v Joao Sousa Predictions & Preview
This is a first ever meeting between both players ranked around the top 60 in the world.
Portuguese Sousa has been on the tour for a while, but had a good year by his standards this year. After a first ever second round appearance at Wimbledon, he had a dip on the US hard courts but done well to come back with good runs in the last two weeks on the tour.
Nishioka has had a breakthrough run this year, defeating Kei Nishikori his ‘hero’, and countryman and a noteworthy win against a top ten player.
A good match ahead of us, and the Japanese crowd may well see Nishioka through in a three-setter.
Tip: Nishioka to win in three sets: 4/1 with Unibet
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Lorenzo Sonego v Hyeon Chung Predictions & Preview
Although Chung is ranked almost 100 spots below, this should be a much closer battle between both players looking to gain more mometum in their respective careers.
Korea’s Chung won the first ever ‘Next Gen’ Tour Finals in Milan in 2017, and was an Australian Open semi-finalist in 2018. Injuries have since affected him for most of the last year and he is attempting to make a comeback on the tour, getting back to prior fitness and form.
Italian Lorenzo Sonego is new to the tour and more suited to the clay, but surprised all by winning his first ever tournament on the Antalya grass, the week before Wimbledon.
This match could go either way, but the determined and resolute Chung may just prevail in a tight three-setter.
Tip: Chung to win in three sets: 10/3 with Unibet
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