ATP 250 Almaty Open Sunday Preview
By Christopher Oddo
Eight qualifying matches are in the books on Day 1 of the Almaty Open, and eight players – including two local talents – are set to battle for four coveted main draw spots on Sunday at the Almaty Arena.
37-year-old Mikhail Kukushkin hopes to join four Kazakhstani players – Alexander Shevchenko, Timofey Skatov, Beibit Zhukayev and Amir Omarkhanov – in the main draw.
Former world No.39 Kukushkin will take on top-seeded James Duckworth on Sunday. Kukushkin, a veteran of 175 ATP wins, qualified last year in Almaty, before losing to compatriot Alexander Shevchenko in the first round.
Second-seeded Rinky Hijikata, a straight-set winner on Saturday over Switzerland’s Jakub Paul, will face No.5 seed Frenchman Ugo Blanchet, who narrowly escaped the clutches of Russia’s Ilia Simakin on Day 1, 6-3, 6-7(8), 7-6(5). The pair have never faced each other before.
France’s Titouan Droguet will face Germany’s Marko Topo, while resurgent Bernard Tomic, the former world No.17, will meet Swiss southpaw Marc-Andrea Huesler.
At the close of business on Sunday, four qualifiers will have taken their place in the main draw, which begins on Monday October 13th in Almaty.
This year’s field in Almaty includes a star-studded cast that features defending champion and world No. 10 Karen Khachanov, who defeated Gabriel Diallo in last year’s final. Khachanov will be joined by former world No.1 Daniil Medvedev, fresh off a semifinal in Shanghai this weekend as well as rising Italians Flavio Cobolli and Luciano Darderi.
Eight Top 40 players are set to compete in the main draw.
Eight qualifying matches are in the books on Day 1 of the Almaty Open, and eight players – including two local talents – are set to battle for four coveted main draw spots on Sunday at the Almaty Arena.
37-year-old Mikhail Kukushkin hopes to join four Kazakhstani players – Alexander Shevchenko, Timofey Skatov, Beibit Zhukayev and Amir Omarkhanov – in the main draw.
Former world No.39 Kukushkin will take on top-seeded James Duckworth on Sunday. Kukushkin, a veteran of 175 ATP wins, qualified last year in Almaty, before losing to compatriot Alexander Shevchenko in the first round.
Second-seeded Rinky Hijikata, a straight-set winner on Saturday over Switzerland’s Jakub Paul, will face No.5 seed Frenchman Ugo Blanchet, who narrowly escaped the clutches of Russia’s Ilia Simakin on Day 1, 6-3, 6-7(8), 7-6(5). The pair have never faced each other before.
France’s Titouan Droguet will face Germany’s Marko Topo, while resurgent Bernard Tomic, the former world No.17, will meet Swiss southpaw Marc-Andrea Huesler.
At the close of business on Sunday, four qualifiers will have taken their place in the main draw, which begins on Monday October 13th in Almaty.
This year’s field in Almaty includes a star-studded cast that features defending champion and world No. 10 Karen Khachanov, who defeated Gabriel Diallo in last year’s final. Khachanov will be joined by former world No.1 Daniil Medvedev, fresh off a semifinal in Shanghai this weekend as well as rising Italians Flavio Cobolli and Luciano Darderi.
Eight Top 40 players are set to compete in the main draw.
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14.11.2025
KTF press-service
