STARNBERG, October 12, 2020
A trio of Russians — Andrey Rublev, Daniil Medvedev and Karen Khachanov — will each look to win their second title on home soil at the St. Petersburg Open, which has been upgraded to an ATP 500 tournament in the revised 2020 calendar. Medvedev is the defending champion in St. Petersburg, while Rublev and Khachanov have lifted trophies in Moscow over the past two years.
Rublev has already won three ATP Tour titles this season, including an ATP 500 trophy at last month’s Hamburg European Open. The 22-year-old also reached the quarter-finals at the US Open and Roland Garros.
Medvedev and Khachanov will both be attempting to reach their first finals of 2020. Medvedev is the top seed, while Khachanov is the fourth seed in St. Petersburg, which also features Stan Wawrinka, Denis Shapovalov, Milos Raonic and last year’s finalist Borna Coric.
UNSTOPPABLE SPIRIT |НЕУДЕРЖИМЫЙ ДУХ ТЕННИСА🥎
⠀#формулатх #спбопен #spbopen #formulatx #unstoppablespirit pic.twitter.com/6DTsTlsKIy— ATP ST. PETERSBURG OPEN 2020 (@Formula_TX) September 18, 2020
Zverev top seed in Cologne
Alexander Zverev leads the way at the bett1HULKS Indoors, the first of two back-to-back ATP 250 indoor hard-court tournaments in Cologne added to the updated 2020 calendar. The 23-year-old German, runner-up to Dominic Thiem at last month’s US Open, is aiming to capture his first title of 2020.
Andy Murray, who upset Zverev at the Western & Southern Open upon the ATP Tour’s return in August, is a wild card. The former World No. 1, who could play Zverev in the second round, enjoyed a memorable run on indoor hard courts last October at the European Open in Antwerp, where he claimed his first title since coming back from a career-saving second right hip surgery.
Roberto Bautista Agut, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Benoit Paire join Zverev as Top 4 seeds at the ATP 250 tournament. The trio are making their second visits to Germany this year, following appearances at last month’s Hamburg European Open.
Our Main Draw is ready!! Don’t you think we’ll see stunning matches?? 🤩🤩 pic.twitter.com/H33Q6YEgH4
— bett1_HULKS (@bett1hulks) October 10, 2020
Sardinia hosts ATP 250 event
Fabio Fognini and Casper Ruud will look to end their 2020 clay campaigns on a high note at the Forte Village Sardegna Open, an ATP 250 tournament in Sardinia, Italy. Top seed Fognini is attempting to lift his first trophy since winning last year’s Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.
Ruud will aim to continue his strong form on clay this season. The 21-year-old Norwegian leads the ATP Tour with a 17-5 mark on the surface this year, highlighted by his first title run at the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires.
Dusan Lajovic and Albert Ramos-Vinolas join Fognini and Ruud as top four seeds in Sardinia. The pair owns a combined three ATP Tour trophies, with each of those tournament victories coming at clay events.
