Aussies continue Asian swing
Bernard Tomic, John Millman and Daria Gavrilova are in Beijing this week for the China Open, while Nick Kyrgios and James Duckworth feature in Tokyo, Japan.
Melbourne VIC, Australia, 3 October 2016 | tennis.com.au
Bernard Tomic and John Millman comprise the Aussie assault on this year’s China Open in Beijing, a tournament starring Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal.
Tomic opens against Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta with the winner progressing to a likely second-round match against No.8 seed Richard Gasquet.
Millman begins against another Spaniard in Roberto Bautista Agut, the seventh seed.
Millman reached the main draw in Beijing after beating Wu Di and Nikoloz Basilashvili in the qualifying rounds.
Daria Gavrilova is in the women’s field and takes on American Christina McHale in the first round.
The winner is projected to face 12th seed Timea Bacsinszky, who has drawn recent WTA Seoul champion Lara Arruabarrena.
Gavrilova is the lone Aussie woman in the draw after Sam Stosur exited in the first round to Zhang Shuai.
> READ MORE: Stosur stumbles in Beijing
In Tokyo, Nick Kyrgios is seeded sixth at the ATP 500 event, which is headlined by Japanese No.1 seed Kei Nishikori.
Kyrgios opens against in-form qualifier Ryan Harrison and is projected to meet in the quarterfinals third seed Tomas Berdych, who arrives in Tokyo fresh off his ATP title in Shenzhen at the weekend.
James Duckworth is also in the draw after coming through qualifying; he beat compatriot Matt Ebden in the final round to seal his place.
Duckworth will take on No.8 seed Feliciano Lopez of Spain in the first round.