Third seed Daniil Medvedev opens his Beijing campaign against qualifier Pablo Carreno Busta, with the Russian holding a 5-2 edge in their head-to-head.
Medvedev arrives in form after beating Andrey Rublev in the Hangzhou final, a title run built on a huge serve (23 aces in that final) and the flat, deep hitting that suits outdoor hard courts. He is 10-3 in Beijing and reached the final here in the past, so he is comfortable in the conditions.
Carreno Busta did well to come through qualifying, but he had won just one of his previous six matches before getting there. The Spaniard is a gritty counterpuncher who will extend rallies, yet he rarely has the weight of shot to hurt Medvedev on a fast surface.
The main risk is fatigue. Medvedev played a final only days ago and travelled straight to Beijing, so a slow start is possible. Even then, Carreno Busta lacks the firepower to keep a sustained lead.
Prediction: Medvedev to win in straight sets. Confidence: high.