Alcaraz, Rune and Sinner in same half of loaded draw for China Open

With five places remaining for the ATP Finals in Turin, the next few weeks take on even more significance than usual, with a number of players vying for spots in the coveted eight-man event.

Big points are available, with two Masters 1000s to come, in Shanghai and Paris, while the next event is also a big one, the China Open in Beijing, an ATP 500, with an absolutely stacked field.

Eight of the world’s top 10 will be there, the only exceptions being world No 1 Novak Djokovic, who has chosen to skip the Asian swing of events, and world No 8 Taylor Fritz.

Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev have already booked their places for Turin but those behind them know a couple of big performances in the next couple of weeks could see them make it too.

Alcaraz starts against qualifier, could play Khachanov next

But in such a stacked draw, things are going to be tough right from the start, with Alcaraz, Rune and Sinner all in the top half.

Top seed Alcaraz is back in action for the first time since losing to Medvedev in the semi-finals at the US Open. The Spaniard has a qualifier in round one but things will get tougher very quickly, with Karen Khachanov, who’s in the final in Zhuhai, or Lorenzo Musetti awaiting him in round two.

In theory, Casper Ruud would be next, followed by either Rune or Sinner but nothing’s certain in such a crowded field, which features a series of outstanding first-round matches.

First-round crackers

Third seed Rune plays Felix Auger-Aliassime; sixth seed Sinner faces Dan Evans; Alexander Zverev meets a rejuvenated Diego Schwartzman; Andrey Rublev is up against Cam Norrie and Andy Murray takes on Alex De Minaur, the Australian who has won all four of their previous meetings.

Second seed Medvedev props up the draw, looking to build on his run to the US Open final. He meets American Tommy Paul in round one.

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