Second seed Andrey Rublev begins his Hangzhou week against Australian Rinky Hijikata.
Rublev had a first round bye and will be keen to make amends here after losing to Valentin Royer at this event last year, a run that took Royer all the way to the final. The Russian remains one of the most consistent hard court players on tour, with a forehand that can end points from anywhere on the court.
Hijikata is a scrappy competitor who plays with high energy and covers the court well. He is at his best when he can make matches physical, extend rallies and use his speed to turn defence into offence. He will need all of that against Rublev's pace.
The gap in firepower is significant. Rublev takes the ball early, hits relentlessly through the middle and rarely gives opponents time to set up. Hijikata's serve is not a big weapon, which means Rublev should see plenty of looks on return and pressure the Australian's service games throughout.
The main risk for Rublev is his own emotions if the match gets tight, but on paper this is a clear edge.
**Prediction: Rublev in straight sets. Confidence: high.**