Nadal, Pouille On Beijing Collision Course

It was one of the more riveting matches of the year: a five-set thriller between Rafael Nadal and Lucas Pouille less than a month ago at the US Open. Ready for an encore?

The second-seeded Spaniard and sixth-seeded Frenchman are on a collision course for a quarter-final rematch at next week’s China Open. Nadal must go through Paolo Lorenzi, followed by either Albert Ramos-Vinolas or a qualifier for his potential shot at revenge. Pouille, who prevailed in a dramatic deciding tie-break, enters in top form after lifting his first ATP World Tour trophy at the Moselle Open in Metz. He opens against wild card Yen-Hsun Lu.

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The potential encounter could have significant implications in both players’ bids to qualify for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. Nadal, the 2005 Beijing titlist (d. Coria), is 18-4 at the ATP World Tour 500 event and will be seeking to boost his standing in the Emirates ATP Race To London. The 30 year old, who is eyeing his first hard-court crown since 2014 Doha, is currently in eighth position, with Tomas Berdych, finalist at this week’s Shenzhen Open, nipping at his heels. Pouille, meanwhile, is in 13th position. The top eight players will appear at The O2 in London from 13-20 November.

Nadal also finished runner-up to Novak Djokovic in both 2013 & ’15 in Beijing and while the six-time champion Serbian withdrew with an elbow injury, the tournament features a strong field. Top seed Andy Murray, a semi-finalist in 2014, leads the charge. The Scot is seeking to add to his collection of titles on Chinese soil, having won at the Shanghai Rolex Masters in 2010 & ’11 and in Shenzhen in 2014. He opens against Italy’s Andreas Seppi, with Dominic Thiem, David Ferrer, Roberto Bautista Agut and #NextGen star Alexander Zverev also lurking in his half of the draw. Meeting for the fourth time this year, Thiem and Zverev are set for a blockbuster opening-round clash. The Austrian is seventh in the Emirates ATP Race To London.

Another enticing first-round match-up features a surging Florian Mayer looking to topple third seed Milos Raonic. The Canadian is in search of his second Asian Swing crown, having lifted the trophy in Bangkok in 2013. Also a finalist in Tokyo from 2012-14, Raonic is making his second appearance in Beijing and could face Nadal or Pouille in the semis.

The lone home hope in the draw is wild card Zhang Ze, who will open against American Jack Sock.