The quarterfinals of the Bank of China Open in Hong Kong are set to be determined on Thursday, with notable matchups featuring No. 2 seed Alexander Bublik against Botic van de Zandschulp and No. 5 seed Lorenzo Sonego facing off against Jerry Shang.
In the highly anticipated clash between Bublik and Van de Zandschulp, the two players will meet for the fourth time in their careers. Van de Zandschulp currently holds a slim 2-1 advantage in their head-to-head series. Both of his victories over Bublik have come in tightly contested three-set matches, one of which ended in retirement. However, Bublik turned the tables in their last encounter, winning decisively 6-3, 6-4 at the semifinals of Kitzbuhel in the previous summer. This win was part of a remarkable run for the 28-year-old Kazakh, who achieved a career-high ranking of No. 11 in the world and claimed four ATP titles, including a quarterfinals appearance at the French Open. In contrast, Van de Zandschulp, ranked 75th, recorded a 16-21 record last season and will face a significant challenge as he advances from his first-round victory over Jan-Lennard Struff, winning 6-3, 1-6, 6-1.
Meanwhile, Lorenzo Sonego is set to compete against home favorite Jerry Shang, who has shown impressive performance in previous Hong Kong tournaments. The 20-year-old Shang earned his only ATP title at the 2024 Chengdu event and reached the semifinals in both of his prior Hong Kong appearances. Continuing his strong form, Shang defeated Francisco Comesana 6-4, 6-4 in the opening round. This match marks a first-time showdown against Sonego, who won his first round against Rei Sakamoto with a score of 6-2, 7-6(4). Sonego, who struggled last season with a 25-29 record, experienced early departure in his Hong Kong debut last year, losing in the second round. The matchup presents an opportunity for Shang to potentially pull off an upset in front of the home crowd.
Fans eagerly await the outcomes of these matches, as the players vie for the coveted spots in the quarterfinals, showcasing their skills on the international stage.