By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday, October 2 2022
The ATP will kick into a higher gear next week, with 500 level events in Astana, Kazakhstan and Tokyo, Japan.
Here’s a look at what’s on tap in Tokyo.
Top Seeds
1. Casper Ruud
3. Taylor Fritz
4. Frances Tiafoe
5. Nick Kyrgios
6. Alex de Minaur
7. Denis Shapovalov
8. Dan Evans
9. Borna Coric
See the draw here
Key storylines
Ruud seeded No.1
World No.2 Casper Ruud has already qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals, but the Norwegian is still hungry for more wins in 2022. After falling to Yoshihito Nishioka in the quarterfinals at seoul, Ruud has booked a first-round tilt with Spain’s Jaume Munar. His potential quarterfinal opponent, if seeds hold, would be Alex de Minaur.
Former champion Nick Kyrgios back in the mix
2016 champion Nick Kyrgios is back in Tokyo for the first time since 2018. The Aussie has drawn Jasen Tseng in his first match, and is slated to face American Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals if the seeds hold. Kyrgios, 35-10 on the season, is currently ranked 20, and seeded fifth in Tokyo.
Norrie out with Covid
Cam Norrie, the No.2 seed, had to pull out due to Covid-19.
Nishioka leads Japanese field
Seoul titlist Yoshihito Nishioka leads a field of nine compatriots into this week’s event in Tokyo. The World No.41, who defeated Denis Shapovalov in the Seoul final, is joined wild cards Kaichi Uchida, Yasutaka Uchiyama and Shintaro Mochizuki, as well as qualifiers Sho Shimabukuro, Yuta Shimizu and Rio Noguchi.
Taro Daniel and Hiroki Moriya are also in the 32-player main draw.