Andrey Rublev kicks off his 2025 season against Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan, while crowd favorite Juncheng Shang battles No. 7 seed Pedro Martinez. Spots in the Hong Kong quarterfinals are on the line.
(1) Andrey Rublev vs. Fabian Marozsan
Andrey Rublev limped through the last few months of the 2024 season. The world No. 8 crashed out of his first matches at both the Shanghai and Paris Masters and he failed to win a single round-robin match at the Nitto ATP finals in November. Rublev had a first-round bye at the Bank of China Open, so this will be the first “official” glimpse of him in the 2025 campaign. He ground through a trio of exhibition events already, though, in an effort to get ready for the Australian Open.
Rublev’s first opponent in Hong Kong is Hungarian Fabian Marozsan. The 25-year-old is ranked 58th in the world, quite a bit off his career high of No. 36 from May of last year. Marozsan was forced (and failed) to qualify for the Paris Masters at the end of last year. He defeated Russian Roman Safiullin in the first round to earn his chance against the top-seeded Rublev on Thursday.
Despite how he ended last season, Rublev should make his way through this match. But expect to see some offseason rust from the Russian, so Marozsan will probably make him work for it.
Cheryl pick: Rublev in 2
Ricky pick: Rublev in 3
Juncheng Shang vs. (7) Pedro Martinez
Juncheng Shang, known among the tennis community as “Jerry,” won his first title in 2024 at home in Chengdu. The 19-year-old had his breakthrough last season; he also made the semifinals in Atlanta as a qualifier. He defeated the wildcard Coleman Wong from Hong Kong in straight sets in the first round, but it was a tight 7-6(4), 6-4 win for the Chinese left-hander
No. 7 seed Pedro Martinez has a couple of career wins over Shang, but that was several years ago before Shang found his game. Martinez beat qualifier Francesco Passaro in the first round. The Spaniard is 27 years old and ranked 43rd in the world. It was rough going for Martinez in the second half of 2024, although one bright spot was a Challenger title he snagged at the Valencia event in October.
Given that crowd support is sure to go to Shang and Martinez’s strong preference for playing on clay courts, Shang is a strong favorite in this one. Look for the teen to advance in straight sets.
Cheryl pick: Shang in 2
Ricky pick: Shang in 2
The battle of the titans: Rublev vs. Marozsan, Shang vs. Martinez
Get ready for an epic showdown as two of the biggest names in their respective sports come face to face in a clash of skill, determination, and sheer talent.
In one corner, we have Andrey Rublev, the Russian tennis sensation known for his powerful serves and relentless aggression on the court. With numerous ATP titles under his belt and a fierce competitive spirit, Rublev is sure to bring his A-game to this match.
In the other corner, we have Dzsenifer Marozsan, the German football maestro who has dazzled fans with her exquisite ball control and playmaking abilities. A key player for both club and country, Marozsan is a force to be reckoned with on the pitch.
But the excitement doesn’t end there – as we also have a thrilling match-up between Fan Zhendong and Hugo Calderano. These two table tennis stars are known for their lightning-fast reflexes and precision shots, making this a showdown not to be missed.
So mark your calendars and tune in to witness these incredible athletes go head-to-head in what is sure to be a spectacle of sporting greatness. Rublev vs. Marozsan, Shang vs. Martinez – it’s going to be a showdown for the ages.
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