Hong Kong Open 2025: Kei Nishikori vs Shang Juncheng preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick 

Match Details

Fixture: (WC) Kei Nishikori vs Shang Juncheng

Date: January 4, 2025

Tournament: Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open 2025

Round: Semifinals

Venue: Victoria Park Tennis Stadium

Category: ATP 250

Surface: Hard (Outdoor)

Prize Money: $680,140

Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN+

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Kei Nishikori vs Shang Juncheng preview

Kei Nishikori in action at the Hong Kong Open (image source: Getty)

Kei Nishikori will face Shang Juncheng in the semifinals of the Hong Kong Open on January 4. The winner of the match will face either Jaume Munar or Alexandre Muller in the final.

Nishikori has had a pretty impressive run in Hong Kong so far, one that will see him return to the top 100 of the ATP rankings next week. The Japanese started his campaign with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Denis Shapovalov and followed it up by coming back from a set down and beating third seed Karen Khachanov 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 to reach the quarterfinals.

Here, the Japanese faced Cameron Norrie and got off to a flying start by taking the first set 6-3. However, the Brit bounced back and took the second set by the same score to force the match into a decider. Nishikori dominated the final set and won it 6-2 to book his place in the semifinals.

Shang Juncheng started his 2025 season at the Hong Kong Open and started by defeating local boy Coleman Wong 7-6(3), 6-4. The Chinese then followed it up with a comprehensive 6-3, 6-1 win over Pedro Martinez to book his place in the quarterfinals.

Here, he faced Fabian Marozsan, and the latter got off to a flying start by taking the first set 6-1. However, Juncheng bounced back by winning the second set and forcing the match into a decider.

The Chinese broke Marozsan's serve in the fifth game of the final set and this was enough to see him take the set 6-4 and clinch a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 win to reach the semifinals.

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Kei Nishikori vs Shang Juncheng head-to-head

The head-to-head between the two is currently tied at 1-1. Their last encounter came in the first round of the Chengdu Open, with Juncheng winning 6-4, 6-4.

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Kei Nishikori vs Shang Juncheng odds

Player	Moneyline	Handicap Bets	Total Games
Kei Nishikori	-120	+0.5 (-150)	Under 24.5 (-135)
Shang Juncheng	-105	-0.5 (+105)	Over 24.5 (+105)

All odds sourced from BETMGM.

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Kei Nishikori vs Shang Juncheng prediction

While Shang is the higher-ranked player, Nishikori's experience cannot be written off.

The Japanese loves to play from the baseline and has a pretty high rally tolerance. However, his sudden transitions from defense to offense will come in handy, as well as his solid backhand, which was among the best when he was in his prime.

Juncheng has had an impressive serve, that has fetched him 22 aces so far during the Hong Kong Open. The Chinese will look to serve more of those to bag as many free points as he can. He will look to attack from the start and put Nishikori on the back foot.

The Japanese will have to muster all his experience and he will be high on confidence after beating Norrie. While Shang seems to have the upper hand in terms of form, it will not be a big surprise if Nishikori wins.

Pick: Nishikori to win in three sets.