Tennis acca tips: Big match for Carlos Alcaraz in Shanghai

Shanghai dominates the scene this week as players are out to clinch places in the ATP Tour finals.

Carlos Alcaraz will be in action in the Round of 16 in what could be the clash of the day as he faces Grigor Dimitrov in a battle of the all-action.

There is further action from the WTA Tour, with stops in Hong Kong, Seoul, and Zhengzhou.

ATP Shanghai: Nicolas Jarry vs Diego Schwartzman | Pick: Jarry

ATP Shanghai: Ugo Humbert vs JJ Wolf | Pick: Humbert

ATP Shanghai: Carlos Alcaraz vs Grigor Dimitrov | Pick: Alcaraz

ATP Shanghai: Tommy Paul vs Andrey Rublev | Pick: Rublev

WTA Hong Kong: Daria Saville Gavrilova vs Elise Mertens | Pick: Mertens

WTA Seoul: Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Yanina Wickmayer | Pick: Alexandrova

WTA Zhengzhou: Jasmine Paolini vs Caroline Garcia | Pick: Garcia

WTA Zhengzhou: Qinwen Zheng vs Maria Sakkari | Pick: Sakkari

 

ATP Shanghai: Nicolas Jarry vs Diego Sebastian Schwartzman

Diego Schwartzman may hold a 4:1 lead in the rivalry, but recent form suggests Nicolas Jarry might get one back in Shanghai.

Jarry is on the brink of breaking into the top 20 for the first time in his career after a great season.

Schwartzman arrived in Shanghai having lost three straight first round matches.

The Argentine has since won three consecutive three-setters, but Jarry might be the man to end his fortunate run.

ATP Shanghai: Ugo Humbert vs JJ Wolf

Ugo Humbert heads into a second clash with JJ Wolf after he bested Stefanos Tsitsipas in a huge triumph.

Wolf has shown great fight through his run in Shanghai, and he has won decisive tiebreaks in his last two outings.

Humbert's previous win over Wolf might be the big factor in the Frenchman's favour.

This will be the first full ATP Tour meeting with Humbert defeating Wolf at Indian Wells qualifying in 2019.

 

ATP Shanghai: Carlos Alcaraz vs Grigor Dimitrov

Carlos Alcaraz is out to complete a quartet of wins over Grigor Dimitrov in four very different conditions.

This will be their first meeting on an outdoor hard court, but Alcaraz has beaten Dimitrov on clay, grass and indoors.

Alcaraz bounced back from a semi-final loss in Beijing well and has won both his matches so far in straight sets.

Dimitrov got a huge win over Karen Khachanov in the previous Round but will need to raise his game again to upset Alcaraz.

ATP Shanghai: Tommy Paul vs Andrey Rublev

Tommy Paul faces Andrey Rublev in another potential classic among the Round of 16 clashes in Shanghai.

Rublev can clinch a place in Turin with a title win in Shanghai, but he may already have done enough to reach the season finale.

Paul isn't out of the race either as the only player outside of the top eight who can move into the Finals places with a deep run in Shanghai.

Rublev has won four of the five meetings between the players, with Paul's only win coming at Indian Wells in 2019.

 

WTA Hong Kong: Daria Saville Gavrilova vs Elise Mertens

Daria Gavrilova faces the tough prospect of getting beyond Belgian journeywoman Elise Mertens.

Saville beat Mertens the last time they met, but the Belgian still golds a 3-2 lead in the career head-to-head.

Saville had to come through qualifying to reach the main draw in Hong Kong.

After taking a break following Guadalajara, Mertens suffered a first-round loss in Beijing last week. 

WTA Seoul: Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Yanina Wickmayer

Ekaterina Alexandrova and Yanina Wickmayer will play each other in the second Round of the Hana Bank Korea Open in what will be their first time sharing a court in their careers. 

Alexandrova should be good for a straight-sets win over Wickmayer, who has slipped away from the top 50 this term.

Alexandrova blew past Mai Hontama 6-3 6-1 in her first match in Seoul and doesn't look like she will be troubled by Wickmayer's power.

The Russian can serve her fair share of aces and will likely look to keep things clipped against Wickmayer.

 

WTA Zhengzhou: Jasmine Paolini vs Caroline Garcia

Caroline Garcia is out to improve her patchy recent form ahead of another appearance in the WTA Finals.

Garcia has beaten Paolini four times in four matches, and she will be the favourite to progress in China.

Garcia's last three losses have come against top ten players, twice going down to Maria Sakkari.

Paolini has had a decent season but has struggled for wins against top players.

 

WTA Zhengzhou: Qinwen Zheng vs Maria Sakkari

The Zhengzhou main event sees Qinwen Zheng tackle Maria Sakkari in a blockbuster clash.

Sakkari has beaten Zheng in both of their prior WTA Tour meetings and has been in great touch in the late season.

Zhang has suffered through the disruption of a surprise split with her coach and hasn't played very well at home despite her Asian Games win.

Sakkari has already qualified for the WTA Tour finals but would love to carry another title into that event.

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