Japan Open 2022: Men’s Singles Draw Preview and Prediction

Japan Open 2022: Men’s Singles Draw Preview and Prediction

Nick Kyrgios, Casper Ruud, and Cameron Norrie

The 2022 Japan Open will begin from October 3 and will feature some big names like Casper Ruud, Nick Kyrgios and Cameron Norrie. It will also be the first ATP 500 event since the US Open.

Tournament Details:

  • Tournament: Japan Open 2022
  • Date: October 03 – 09 2022
  • Number of Entrants: 32 (Singles), 16 (Doubles)
  • Venue: Tokyo, Japan
  • Surface: Hard Court
  • Prize Money: $1,953,285
  • Defending champion: Novak Djokovic

Top Seeds at the Japan Open 2022

  • Casper Ruud
  • Cameron Norrie
  • Taylor Fritz
  • Frances Tiafoe
  • Nick Kyrgios
  • Alex De Minaur
  • Denis Shapovalov
  • Dan Evans

Men’s Singles Draw Preview

Top Half

Casper Ruud
Casper Ruud (IMAGO / PanoramiC)

Casper Ruud will headline the top half of the draw and will open his campaign against Jaume Munar. He is drawn opposite Australian youngster Alex De Minaur who opens against Soonwoo Kwon. Ruud will meet either Pedro Martinez or Alexei Popyrin in the second round while De Minaur will either meet Mackenzie McDonald or Kaichi Uchida in the Round of 16.

4th seed Frances Tiafoe, who is in the form of his life, will face Yasutaka Uchiyama in the first round and will then meet the winner of the match between Taro Daniel and Bernabe Zapata Miralles in the second round. Tiafoe is drawn opposite 8th seed Dan Evans who will open his campaign against Radu Albot. Local star Yoshihito Nishioka will be up against Miomir Kecmanovic in the second round.

FS Video

1st Semifinal Prediction: Casper Ruud vs Frances Tiafoe

YouTube video

Bottom Half

Cameron Norrie
Cameron Norrie (IMAGO / Shutterstock)

British No.1 Cameron Norrie headlines the bottom half of the draw and gets a tricky first round matchup against Thanasi Kokkinakis. He will then face the winner of the match between Brandon Nakashima and Shintaro Mochizuki. 7th seed Denis Shapovalov will take on Steve Johnson and the winner will face a qualifier in the Round of 16. Norrie and Shapovalov are expected to meet in the quarterfinal.

Third seed Taylor Fritz will lock horns against James Duckworth in the opening round and will face either a qualifier or Borna Coric in the second round. Playing for the first time after the US Open, Nick Kyrgios will open against Chun-Hsin Tseng and will then meet either a qualifier or Kamil Majchrzak in the Round of 16. Fritz and Kyrgios are drawn to meet in what will be a blockbuster quarterfinal clash.

2nd Semifinal Prediction: Nick Kyrgios vs Cameron Norrie

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Semifinals

Frances Tiafoe
Frances Tiafoe

Casper Ruud will face Frances Tiafoe in the first semifinal. Ruud has been very consistent this season and was just a win away from becoming the World No.1. Whereas Tiafoe has beaten some big names in the last 2 months and is in the form of his life.

Two flamboyant players, Nick Kyrgios and Cameron Norrie will meet in the second semifinal. Kyrgios has established himself as one of the best players of the season while Norrie, with his consistency could be very lethal.

Japan Open final: Frances Tiafoe vs Nick Kyrgios

Final

Nick Kyrgios
Nick Kyrgios

Two of the most expressive players on tour, Frances Tiafoe and Nick Kyrgios will lock horns in the final of the Japan Open. Tiafoe will fancy his chances to win the biggest title of his career while Kyrgios will look to win yet another title this season. Expect a great match filled with drama and Kyrgios coming out as the victor.

Champion: Nick Kyrgios

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