Nine exciting first-round matches are on the schedule for the ATP 250 Hong Kong Open, with useful ranking points and momentum on the line ahead of the Australian Open. LWOT features four of the nine matches below; This set of predictions features the unpredictable and exciting Lorenzo Sonego.
ATP Hong Kong Day 2 Predictions
Djere Laslo against Marcos Giron
Face to face: First meeting
Both players are veterans of the tour, looking for greater ascension in 2026. Giron briefly reached the Top 50 in mid-2025, but his ranking slipped towards the end of the season – meanwhile, Djere returned to the Top 100 last season after a poor 2024. Both players are rather similar with all-court matchups; they are not afraid of the net, but lack firepower in big moments. The American is a little more complete on all surfaces, and his experience on hard courts could give him the advantage.
Prediction: Giron in 3
Alejandro Tabilo vs. Michael Mmoh
Face to face: First meeting
Mmoh has been looking for a major breakthrough in the season for some time. With his ranking now well outside the Top 200, the American is off to a good start in 2026 with qualifying victories in Hong Kong against higher-ranked players. Tabilo, coming off a frustrating 2025 season, also had to qualify and struggled similarly in two long matches. Both players should already be a little tired, but Tabilo’s experience on tour and his left-handed game should push him over the finish line.
Prediction: Tabilo in 3
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Jan-Lennard Struff versus Botic van de Zandschulp
Face to face: Struff 2-1
Struff had a surprisingly mediocre 2025 season, ranked just outside the Top 80. The German has one of the strongest serves on tour, but his movement is vulnerable and can be exploited by all-court players like Van de Zandschulp. In the duo’s only hard-court clash, Van de Zandschulp defeated Struff in a straight-sets victory at the Australian Open 2022. I think this match came down to crucial break points and serves, but Struff already has two qualifying victories under his belt, and he’s probably adapted better to the fast Hong Kong courts.
Prediction: Struff in 3
Lorenzo Sonego vs. Rei Sakamoto
Face to face: First meeting
As one of the fastest players on tour, Sonego will have a lot to prove in 2026. A huge quarter-final at the 2025 Australian Open propelled the Italian’s ranking into the Top 35, but his form plateaued after that result. Hard courts bring out the best in Sonego, especially the Italian’s big forehand. Sakamato, at 19, won an ATP Challenger title in Japan at his last tournament in November 2025, but he is 0-3 at the tour level and probably doesn’t have the aggressive game to keep up with the Italian.
Prediction: Sonego in 2
Main photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea – USA TODAY Sports
