Jannik Sinner’s Davis Cup team-mate tipped to start season with a bang by Grand Slam great
The Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open is underway and while defending champion Andrey Rublev is the top seed, Australian tennis great Mark Woodforde is backing the No 2 seed to lift the title.
The ATP 250 event is one of the most picturesque stops on the ATP Tour and 17-time Grand Slam double winner Woodforde is backing Lorenzo Musetti to add his name to the list of winners in Hong Kong.
Britain’s Cameron Norrie won his opening match in Hong Kong on Monday and local hero Coleman Wong is star attraction, but Woodforde is backing world No 17 Musetti to win his first ATP Tour title since 2022 in the opening week of the new season.
“As I look to make a pick for this year’s Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open, I am looking at Lorenzo Musetti to do well,” Woodforde told Tennis365 in an exclusive interview.
“He had a great 2024 and will be keen to push on from that in the new year and he could take the title this week. Italian tennis is on such a high at the moment and Musetti is part of the reason for that.
“In saying that, it is difficult to come out and pick a clear favourite because even though Rublev is top seed and we have some big names here, it feels like a week wen any player can come through and take the title.
“I was out on the practice courts watching the guys getting ready for their matches alongside Pat Cash and it is so interesting to get up close and see players,” he began Woodforde, who is an ambassador for the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open 2025.
“The way the courts are set up for this tournament, the fans have a chance to get up close and personal with these guys and the quality of their game is just outstanding.
“The strength in depth in men’s tennis is fantastic right now and when you look at this tournament in Hong Kong, we are seeing players operating at such a high level that are not among the seeds.
“Cashy and were saying that when you see players up-close performing live, you get a much better view of them and it’s deceiving how tall they are and how big they hit the ball.
“We were watching Miomir Kecmanovic practising with Brandon Nakashima and marvelling at the speed of the ball coming off their rackets.
“Bu Yunchaokete is another player wo caught our eye and he is a player for this region to get exciting about. Look out for him to cause a few upsets this week.”
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Taking top level tennis to nations like Hong Kong allows the sport to reach new audiences and Woodforde’s role as a tournament ambassador gives him a chance to experience the great hospitality in the country.
“It’s always great to stop off in a beautiful city like Hong Kong on the way to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that is the Australian Open,” he added.
“I’m always blown away by how spectacular the architecture is in the city and to be right on the bay is just perfect. I also love the food here.
“For the guys that have entered the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open 2025, this is an important first event of the new season.
“It’s important for the ATP Tour to offer players a chance to play events in the build-up to the Australian Open and that doesn’t just have to be in Australia.
“Bringing tennis to Hong Kong is great for this region and the organisers have done an amazing job to get the quality of draw we have here, with Andrey Rublev as top seed as so many more big names playing this week.”
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