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The fifth day of action at the 2023 Chengdu Championships on Saturday will feature five second-round matches. Four seeds and two qualifiers will be in action at the ATP 250 hardcourt event.
On Friday, the likes of Jordan Thompson and Christopher O'Connell emerged victorious, respectively beating Dusan Lajovic and Taro Daniel, both in straight sets.
So, without further ado, here's a look at how the following four second-round matches at the Chengdu Championships on Saturday could pan out:
#1 Grigor Dimitrov vs Juan Pablo Varillas
Third seed Grigor Dimitrov takes on unseeded Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas for a place in the Chengdu Championships quarterfinal.
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World No. 20 Dimitrov is opening his campaign at the tournament after a first-round bye. He has a 27-16 record on the season and has a 3-2 record at Chengdu, reaching the last eight in 2019.
Meanwhile, the 70th-ranked Varillas beat Chinese qualifier Jie Cui in straight sets on his Chengdu debut to improve to 13-16 in 2023.
The two players haven't met before, but expect the more experienced Dimitrov to prevail.
Pick: Dimitrov in straight sets
#2 Alexander Zverev (Chengdu Championships top seed) vs Pavel Kotov
Top seed Alexander Zverev opens his campaign at the Chengdu Championships against Russian qualifier Pavel Kotov.
World No. 10 Zverev is 42-21 on the season and is coming off a run to the US Open quarterfinal. Meanwhile, the 106th-ranked Kotov improved to 9-10 in 2023 by seeing off Daniel Elahi Galan.
The two Chengdu debutants haven't locked horns before, but Zverev should emerge victorious.
Pick: Zverev in straight sets
#3 Marcos Giron vs Arthur Rinderknech
Marcos Giron takes on Arthur Rinderknech in an all-unseeded Chengdu Championships second-round clash.
The 64th-ranked Giron beat fifth seed Alexander Bublik on his Chengdu debut to improve to 19-22 on the season. Meanwhile, World No. 67 Rinderknech saw off lucky loser Li Tu on his tournament debut for his 12th win in 30 matches in 2023.
Giron beat Rinderknech in his only clash in Metz in 2021 and should win again.
Pick: Giron in three sets
#4 Miomir Kecmanovic vs Corentin Moutet
Seventh seed Miomir Kecmanovic takes on the unseeded Corentin Moutet for a place in the Chengdu last eight.
The 47th-ranked Kecmanovic beat qualifier Benjamin Lock on his Chengdu debut to improve to 21-24 in 2023. Meanwhile, World No. 122 Moutet, also playing his debut match at the tournament, saw off wildcard Tao Mu for his seventh win in 21 matches on the season.
Kecmanovic beat Moutet in his lone meet at Napoli last year and should repeat the trick.
Pick: Kecmanovic in straight sets
