Karen Khachanov vs Kei Nishikori Prediction & Betting Tips - Hong Kong Open

Prediction published on 31/12/2024, 06:46  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 31/12/2024 at 07:46 in Tennis Predictions

No seeded players stand between third seed Karen Khachanov and the last four of the Hong Kong Tennis Open. The third seed takes on wild card Kei Nishikori in round two. Here's our prediction for this outdoor hard court match.

The winner of this match will be up against either Cameron Norrie or Lorenzo Sonego in the quarter-finals, both being unseeded. Khachanov is the world number 19 and will want to continue the strong finish he made to 2024.

The Russian won the Almaty Open, was runner-up in Vienna and then got to the semi-finals of the Paris Masters. He received a bye into the second round of this tournament. Khachanov trails Nishikori 4-2 in previous meetings but this is their first match since 2021.

Kei Nishikori is up to 101st in the live rankings. Beating Khachanov will see him return to the top 100. The Japanese player has just celebrated his 35th birthday and then beat Denis Shapovalov in straight sets, losing just five games.

He's been in good form too and he won his last tournament but that was on the Challenger Tour.  He didn't beat any top 90 ranked players to win that tournament and dropped sets in three of his five matches. We tip Khachanov to win this match.