LAST year’s ASB Classic was one of the hardest to predict, with a strong field and upsets left, right and centre making it an entertaining contest leading up to the Australian Open. It was won by American, Tennys Sandgren who toppled wildcard Brit, Cameron Norrie in the final.

FAVOURITE:

Denis Shapovalov

A player who bowed out early last year, rapidly improving Canadian Shapovalov should be deserving favourite at Auckland. Shapovalov went down to Joao Sousa in three sets in the 2019 first round as the seventh seed and now he returns as the second seed. Shapovalov broke through for his maiden title in Stockholm last year, but only had a 50 per cent winning record in Grand Slam matches last year. Heading into Auckland, Shapovalov will be keen to follow on from his Davis Cup run which included victories over Matteo Berrettini and Khachanov, and Nadal a month earlier in Paris. In the ATP Cup, Shapovalov knocked off Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets and took Novak Djokovic and Alex de Minaur to three sets. He has also picked up a favourable draw and should have no troubles reaching the semi-finals before a potential clash with John Isner.

CONTENDERS:

Fabio Fognini

The second seed Italian bowed out in straight sets to German, Philipp Kohlschreiber last year in the quarter finals, so expect world number 12, Fognini to come back with fire in the belly. He will have the bye in the opening round coming in as the highest ranked player. Fognini had a disappointing end to the year, not making it past a quarter finals from May onwards. He did triumph at Monte-Carlo back in April where he knocked off Nadal and Zverev on his way to the title.

Karen Khachanov

Khachanov is an interesting player to look at in the scheme of things. He might not be the expected favourite heading into the tournament, but with a number of his higher ranked rivals in poor form – such as Fognini – he could be the one to follow on from his Davis Cup performance and really stamp his authority on the tournament. The withdrawal of countryman Daniil Medvedev has opened the door for Khachanov to be the top Russian at the tournament.

DARK HORSE:

John Isner

The fast serving American Isner won his fourth Newport tournament last year, but his record in 2019 was not as prominent, with injury playing a part and Isner managing just 48 matches, and only won win against a top 10 player. Isner is one of those players who wins 89.7 per cent when he takes the first set, and just 21.1 per cent of the time when he drops the first set. Interestingly enough, he could face last year’s winner Sandgren in the second round.

ROUGHIE:

Feliciano Lopez

The lowest ranked automatic entry is Spanish veteran, Lopez. Now ranked 62nd in the world and at age 38, Lopez just keeps on performing even if it is in a limited capacity – playing just 27 matches last year. Not quite done yet, though Lopez could be on his swansong in 2020, he won his second Queen’s Club title in 2019 to make it seven in total across a career that took a while to get going – six years between his first and second title – but forged a really honest career consistently a threat to many of the top players.