Tuesday tennis acca: Race to Turin hots up in Shanghai

The Shanghai Masters continues the red-hot race to Turin with plenty up for grabs for the top players.

There is also plenty of action from the WTA Tour, with events in Hong Kong, Seoul and Zhenzhou.

Here, we make picks for a handful of matches going down on Tuesday, 10 October 2023.

 

ATP Shanghai: Casper Ruud vs Fabian Marozsan | Pick: Ruud

ATP Shanghai: Francisco Cerundolo vs Sebastian Korda | Pick: Korda

ATP Shanghai: Jannik Sinner vs Ben Shelton | Pick: Sinner

ATP Shanghai: Hubert Hurkacz vs Zhizhen Zhang | Pick: Hurkacz

WTA Hong Kong: Mirra Andreeva vs Dayana Yastremska | Pick: Andreeva

WTA Hong Kong: Victoria Azarenka vs Leylah Annie Fernandez | Pick: Azarenka

WTA Seoul: Jessica Pegula vs Viktoria Hruncakova | Pick: Pegula

WTA Zhengzhou: Veronika Kudermetova vs Vera Zvonareva | Pick: Kudermetova

 

ATP Shanghai: Casper Ruud vs Fabian Marozsan

Fabian Marozsan will be chasing his first top-ten win when he faces Casper Ruud.

Ruud would love a deep run in Shanghai to strengthen his position in the race.

Marozsan has played well in patches, especially in his Shanghai run and should not be written off.

Ruud hasn't had the best season by his standards but could still rescue matters with a strong finish.

 

ATP Shanghai: Francisco Cerundolo vs Sebastian Korda

Sebastian Korda is on a roll, having followed up a title with a maiden top-five win over Daniil Medvedev to start in Shanghai.

There isn't much to choose between the players when it comes to ranking, so recent form is likely to be the best indicator.

Korda has been rocking and rolling of later and will take some stopping as he showed against Medvedev.

This will be the first ever meeting between these players, and it should be an intriguing battle.

 

ATP Shanghai: Jannik Sinner vs Ben Shelton

Hot prospects Jannik Sinner and Ben Shelton will also go head-to-head for the first time ever.

Both players had to fight hard to come through three-setters last time out, with Sinner going over Sebastian Baez and Shelton beating Safiullin.

Sinner clinched his place in the ATP Tour Finals for the first time earlier this month.

Shelton looks to be out of contention for the finals but will be out to build on his career-high ranking.

 

ATP Shanghai: Hubert Hurkacz vs Zhizhen Zhang

Hubert Hurkacz and Zhizhen Zhang are set for their second meeting in successive Shanghai events.

Hurkacz beat Zhang in their last meeting, but that was four years ago and before the Chinese player broke through.

Zhang is enjoying a stellar run and would surely love to avenge his home defeat to the Pole.

Hurkacz, meanwhile, can get himself back into finals contention in Shanghai.

 

WTA Hong Kong: Mirra Andreeva vs Dayana Yastremska

Mirra Andreeva has already beaten Dayana Yastremska this season, getting the better of her in Lausanne.

Andreeva has just broken into the top 50 and could make another positive move in Hong Kong.

Yastremska will be kicking off her Asian swing, playing her first match since her second round exit in Guadalajara.

Andreeva should have the edge again but can expect Yastremska to be positive.

 

WTA Hong Kong: Victoria Azarenka vs Leylah Annie Fernandez

Victoria Azarenka faces Leylah Fernandez in an early popcorn clash in Hong Kong.

The former world No 1 has seen her season tail off while Fernandez has come into her own later after an injury return.

Azarenka's experience should be the factor that splits these two players.

This will be the first time that Fernandez takes on Azarenka.

 

WTA Seoul: Jessica Pegula vs Viktoria Hruncakova

Jessica Pegula has suffered a few too many upsets of late to be caught off guard by Viktoria Hruncakova in their first clash.

Pegula lost the Tokyo final and was stunned by Jelena Ostapenko at the China Open last week.

Pegula should still have fairly high confidence after claiming her maiden WTA 1000 title before the US Open.

 

WTA Zhengzhou: Veronika Kudermetova vs Vera Zvonareva

Tokyo champion Veronika Kudermetova can avenge her loss to Vera Zvonareva in their only previous meeting when she faces her compatriot in Zhengzhou.

Kudermetova is targeting a run into the top ten and will be motivated to perform in this late-season tournament.

Kudermetova has a recent title to her name, and her countrywoman has fallen out of the top 350.

Zvonareva came through qualifying to reach this match after a first round loss in Beijing.