[Aileen]

ATP HUAJIN  SECURITIES  ZHUHAI  CHAMPIONSHIPS  2019

Hengqin Tennis Center

The Huajin Securities Zhuhai Championships, which replaces the Shenzhen Open. joins the ATP calendar as one of two ATP 250 tournaments, along with the Chengdu Open, to kick off the three-week Asian swing.   It is played on the outdoor hard courts of the custom-designed state-of-the art Hengqin International Tennis Center in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China, which has 17 outdoor courts and a 5,000-seat stadium.  The Center has also successfully staged an ATP Challenger Tour and WTA Elite Trophy event.

The inaugural Zhuhai Championships will welcome Top 10 stars Stefanos Tsitsipas and Roberto Bautista Agut, who will continue their push to qualify for the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals, and former World No. 1 Andy Murray, who continues his singles comeback.  The 2019 field also includes two other Top 20 players in Gael Monfils and Borna Coric, along with Australians Nick Kyrgios and Alex de Minaur.  Cameron Norrie is the only other British participant, Dan Evans and Kyle Edmund having opted to play in Chengdu.

Murray, who received welcome gifts on his arrival, said "I have always enjoyed playing in China and Zhuhai is meant to be a great city. It's close to Macau and Hong Kong, with an impressive stadium and I can't wait to experience it."

The draw takes place on Saturday at 2pm Zhuhai time, 7am BST

Where to watch in the UK - unfortunately Amazon Prime aren't covering it, preference being given to Chengdu, it but TennisTV is.  Hopefully though a free live stream will be found for both Andy's and Cameron's matches.  Play starts Mon-Fri at 1:30pm local, 6:30am BST.
 

[Aileen]

Thanks Aileen.  This will be a real test with both  established and promising young generation players taking part.

I see  on his Facebook page he received some gifts - hopefully nothing  breakable!  Was it last year, or the year before that Andy dropped a gift during the Asian  swing and it smashed to pieces?

I was going to copy that pic on his Facebook over but it came out HUGE, so decided against it.

Yes it was last year that he dropped a glass plate commemorating his contribution to tennis in China, just before the start of Shenzhen, so I suspect the gifts were less breakable this time!

It's certainly a very challenging field for Andy at this stage, although I think any player is a challenge right now, but I do hope that the draw is reasonably kind to him.

[Aileen]

Yes, I remember now.  It must have been so embarrassing, but accidents happen to us all.  

I agree, but I think the fault really lay with those presenting it to him for not making sure the plate was more securely held in its box.

I agree about any player being a challenge for Andy right now.  All he can do is try his best.

Amen to that.  #fingerscrossed

[Aileen]

Andy will play Sandgren in the first round. Hopefully the work Andy’s done sonce Mallorca will mean he’ll be able to take the trash out this time.

Couldn't believe it when I saw that so hope the same!    If he does, he'll play the winner of John Millman vs the No.7 seed Alex de Minaur in R2.

Cameron Norrie plays Peter Gojowczyk in R1, and should he make R2 will play the No.3 seed Gael Monfils


FULL DRAW - https://www.atptour.com/en/scores/current/zhuhai/9164/draws?matchtype=singles

[Aileen]

According to his Facebook Andy's been enjoying some downtime in Zhuhai watching a spectacular fireworks' contest between Great Britain and Romania as part of the annual Macau International Fireworks Display.  He doesn't say who won it though!

[moonglow]

And sorry Aileen does Zhuhai start tomorrow the 22nd?  I might have missed this in your writeup? 

[moonglow]

^ Yes and tomorrow's the 23rd not the 22nd as I said!!
So yes it's tomorrow
You know I do think lots of people will or have looked at the thread, they maybe haven't decided to post --- yet.
& if you hadn't have opened the thread we wouldn't have known the things we now know?

[Aileen]

^  It looks very exciting and spectacular
I don't know who won?!
I think, but have no idea, that there are 12 teams taking part in the competition.

Yes 12 teams take part over a period of four weeks, so Andy was lucky to see them.