Jan-Lennard Struff vs Marin Cilic Prediction & Betting Tips - Hong Kong Open

Prediction published on 31/12/2023, 04:42  by Kennedy Kechula | Modified on 01/01/2024 at 03:57 in Tennis Predictions

Marin Cilic makes his tour return and will battle fifth seed Jan-Lennard Struff in the first round at the Hong Kong Tennis Open. The winner will then play either Sebastian Ofner or Mackenzie McDonald in the second round. Jan-Lennard Struff had a strong 2023 campaign and finished with a record of 45-24. He finished the season ranked 25th in the world and at one point had risen to a career-high 21st place. Though he didn’t win a title, one of his highlights was making the final of the Madrid Masters as a lucky loser. Struff, who won 21 of the 30 matches he played on hard courts in 2023, has won two of the four matches he has contested against Cilic.

Marin Cilic is making his return to the tour after a five-month injury layoff. The one-time major champion had a torrid 2023 season and played just two matches due to a persistent knee injury. He was last on the court five months ago in Umag but lost his tournament opener. Cilic is a former world number three but his absence from the tour has seen him drop out of the top 600 places. The Croat is a strong performer on outdoor hard courts and in his career has compiled a 248-143 record on the surface. Cilic has also won twice against Struff.