Jenson Brooksby and Lorenzo Sonego meet in the second round in Chengdu, with a quarterfinal spot on the line.
Brooksby produced one of the results of the first round, knocking out eighth seed Sebastian Baez 7-5, 7-5. His unorthodox game, built on changes of pace, slices and elite anticipation, pulled Baez out of his rhythm, and the American looked comfortable in the key moments of both sets.
Sonego advanced from his first round match against James Duckworth. The Italian is a more traditional attacker, with a big forehand, a good serve and a willingness to come forward. He thrives when he can dictate from the first shot.
That is exactly what Brooksby tries to take away. He reads the serve well, keeps the ball low and makes opponents hit one more shot. If Sonego serves well and finishes points at the net, he can shorten the rallies and avoid Brooksby's web. If the match turns into long baseline exchanges, the American is the favourite.
Brooksby's form this week is the deciding factor.
**Prediction: Brooksby in three sets. Confidence: low.**