In the second round of the China Open in Beijing we’ll see the third seed, Alex de Minaur take on lucky loser Arthur Rinderknech. Let’s look at some stats and analysis ahead of this clash, and our predictions.
De Minaur vs Rinderknech
Alex de Minaur (world no 8) arrives in Beijing in strong form, having just defeated home favorite Bu Yunchaokete 6-4, 6-0 to secure his spot in the second round. The Australian is having an excellent season, leading the tour with 32 wins on hard courts, and is firmly in the running to qualify for his second straight Nitto ATP Finals. Alex is a master at wearing down his opponents with his tireless retrieving and flat, penetrating groundstrokes.
Arthur Rinderknech’s (World no 54) path to the second round was a story of redemption. The powerful Frenchman initially lost in the final round of qualifying to David Goffin but re-entered the main draw as a lucky loser. He then exacted his revenge just two days later, defeating Goffin in a hard-fought three-set match, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. Rinderknech’s game is centered on his massive serve and forehand, which he uses to dictate play and hit through the court.
Head-to-Head
This will be the first career meeting between Alex de Minaur and Arthur Rinderknech. With no prior history, the match will be a new tactical puzzle for both players and their coaching teams.
Predictions and Odds
Here we’ll see the classic contrast in styles: de Minaur’s speed and grinding consistency versus Rinderknech’s power. De Minaur will aim to force Rinderknech into long rallies, testing the Frenchman’s fitness and trying to make him hit one extra ball.
Rinderknech has the weapons to cause an upset on a good day and his ability to generate easy points on serve can be a major factor. However, the hard-court experience and recent form of Alex de Minaur give him a significant edge in our opinion.
Prediction: Alex de Minaur in two sets at odds around 1.44 or -225
