Botic Van De Zandschulp vs Francisco Cerundolo Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Beijing Open

Prediction published on 30/09/2026, 15:45  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 30/09/2026 at 17:00 in Tennis Predictions

Unseeded Francisco Cerundolo is up against qualifier Botic van de Zandschulp in the first round of the outdoor hard court China Open. Both players won a set in their last meeting and another long match looks likely here. Our prediction therefore is more than 21.5 games.

In round two, the winner will take on either eighth seed Jakub Mensik or unseeded Alexander Bublik.

Francisco Cerundolo lost his last match. That was to Casper Ruud in last week's Laver Cup, but it went to a deciding set.

He has won 11 of his 19 outdoor hard court matches this year with a couple of quarter-finals being reached.

Four of his last five matches in singles tournaments have seen 7-5 and 7-6 sets played.

Botic van de Zandschulp was 40tth in the latest rankings, 18 places below his opponent.

To reach round two, he must beat Cerundolo for the first time, having lost their four previous meetings with just one on this surface.

Van de Zandschulp had to win two qualifiers to reach the main draw, one going to three sets.

He has reached two outdoor hard court quarter-finals this year, both in recent months.

Four of his last five best-of-three-sets matches have seen more than 21.5 games played, two going to a deciding set.