After a 21-year absence, the Hong Kong Open will return to Victoria Park Tennis Centre to herald the start of the 2024 men's tennis season.
Running from January 1st to 7th, this tournament will be an essential destination for the ATP players looking to finetune their games in the buildup to the season's first Grand Slam at the Australian Open.
The Hong Kong Open was a prominent event in the 90s with a gaudy list of former champions. Whoever wins the 2024 edition is primed to etch his name among some of the game's greats (like Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, and Michael Chang) on the honor roll.
The biggest name in the recently-released entry list is that of World No. 5 Andrey Rublev. The Russian has fared brilliantly in the opening weeks of the season in the past. He won two titles at the turn of the year (in 2020) and was an ATP Cup champion the following season.
Rublev will most certainly be the tournament favorite, but he'll be expected to face some significant litmus tests at a time when the top players run the risk of being caught cold. One of his direct challengers is compatriot Karen Khachanov.
USA's Frances Tiafoe played well intermittently in 2023, but he'll be disappointed to lose ground in his quest to become the country's top-ranked player. The Hong Kong Open could be the start of something special for "Big Foe."
Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo is no longer a one-trick pony, and he showcased his wealth of talent on all surfaces last season. He is among the high seeds. Italy's Davis Cup champion Lorenzo Musetti and Germany's Jan Lennard Struff are among the six players in the Top 30 making the trip to Hong Kong.
After a forgettable 2023 campaign, Marin Cilic will make his low-key return to the tour using a Protected Ranking. French teenager Arthur Fils will also join this field. He hopes to learn a thing or two from Rafael Nadal during the offseason, where he is scheduled to practice with the Spaniard in Kuwait.
Three players are expected to receive main draw wild cards in the days leading to the event, while four players will join from the qualifying rounds. The full entry list for the 2024 Hong Kong Open is as indicated below.
2024 Hong Kong Open ATP Entry List:
| Seed | Name | Seeding Ranking | Entry Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrey Rublev | 5 | 5 |
| 2 | Karen Khachanov | 15 | 15 |
| 3 | Frances Tiafoe | 16 | 16 |
| 4 | Francisco Cerundolo | 21 | 21 |
| 5 | Jan-Lennard Struff | 25 | 25 |
| 6 | Lorenzo Musetti | 27 | 27 |
| 7 | Laslo Djere | 33 | 33 |
| 8 | Arthur Fils | 36 | 36 |
| Mackenzie McDonald | 41 | 41 | |
| Sebastian Ofner | 43 | 43 | |
| Botic van de Zandschulp | 50 | 50 | |
| Miomir Kecmanovic | 54 | 54 | |
| Roberto Bautista Agut | 57 | 57 | |
| Fabian Marozsan | 64 | 64 | |
| Nuno Borges | 66 | 66 | |
| Pavel Kotov | 67 | 67 | |
| Emil Ruusuvuori | 69 | 69 | |
| Pedro Cachin | 70 | 70 | |
| Marin Cilic | 672 | 21 (PR) | |
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