Two big names are missing from the draw at the China Open, but eight of the world's top 14 players will compete in Beijing for a chance to lift the trophy.
Having been sidelined since winning Wimbledon in July, world number one Jannik Sinner will miss his title defence in Beijing as he continues his recovery from an ongoing knee problem.
Sinner claimed his second China Open crown with victory over Learner Tien in last year's final but is a notable absentee, leaving world number two Alexander Zverev as the man to beat.
Carlos Alcaraz, champion in 2024 having downed Sinner in the final, has opted to head to Tokyo to defend his title there, but there is still plenty of talent on show.
Eight of the world's top 14 will be in attendance at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, with Zverev joined by six-time champion Novak Djokovic and world number five Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Daniil Medvedev enjoyed a return to form at the Hangzhou Open and will be looking to build on that while Flavio Cobolli, Alex de Minaur, Learner Tien and Jakub Mensik are other leading lights that will be chasing silverware.
ATP China Open Tips Summary
Best Bet - Learner Tien to win ATP China Open @ 11/1
Alternative Bet - Alex de Minaur to win ATP China Open @ 10/1
Alternative Bet - Alexander Bublik to win ATP China Open @ 28/1
ATP China Open Prediction
Best Bet: Learner Tien to win ATP China Open @ 11/1
With no Sinner or Alcaraz in the field, Zverev is the star attraction and the German top seed will be confident of another bold show after a fantastic season.
Sinner and Alcaraz have been plagued by injuries all season and Zverev has capitalised to some effect making three Grand Slam finals and taking titles at the French Open and the US Open.
However, there is nothing easy about his draw and he lost one of his two singles matches at the Laver Cup, going down in three sets to De Minaur to suggest that there is potential for an upset.
A first-round clash with Britain's Cameron Norrie is not straightforward and he also has Djokovic in line as a potential quarter-final opponent.
A resurgent Medvedev or rising star Mensik could await in the semi-final, meaning that the bottom half may be the place to target for a best bet.
Second seed Auger-Aliassime looks vulnerable in his first-round clash with Karen Khachanov, the player who beat him in four sets in round two at the US Open most recently.
Having made last year's final, up-and-coming American talent Tien has to be on the radar of plenty.
Tien lost 7-6, 6-3 to Zverev in the Laver Cup recently, but he responded to that with a win over Italy's Cobolli, and in Beijing last year he came through a tough draw.
Tien reached the final with wins over Francisco Cerundolo, Cobolli, Lorenzo Musetti and Medvedev and things could open up for him once navigating past Hubert Hurkacz in round one.
The American has made the quarter-final of the Australian Open and the semi-final of the Canadian Open this season and has plenty going for him in Auger-Aliassime's quarter.
Alternative Bet: Alex de Minaur to win ATP China Open @ 10/1
De Minaur also makes plenty of appeal in the bottom half, where he avoids Zverev, Djokovic and Medvedev until the final.
The Australian has had a stop-start season but victory over Zverev at the Laver Cup would have done his confidence the world of good and he is a seven-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist.
An 11-time champion on the ATP Tour with 10 runner-up efforts, De Minaur knows exactly what it takes to win and he is in the right quarter of the draw, where Andrey Rublev and Cobolli look like the only potential dangers.
Alternative Bet: Alexander Bublik to win ATP China Open @ 28/1
If there is to be a surprise package in the top half of the draw then Alexander Bublik has the ability to be the breakout player.
Bublik can blow hot and cold but the Kazakhstani showman has won five ATP Tour titles since last July and if he brings his A-game he can upset Mensik in round one.
Things would open up for him if he is able to do so, and Medvedev, a potential quarter-final rival, may struggle to recover quickly from his run to the Hangzhou Open final.
Key Tournament Stats
24-time Grand Slam winner and six-time China Open champion Djokovic is playing at the event for the first time since 2015
Djokovic could meet Zverev in the quarter-final and he leads their personal series 9-5
Khachanov has won his two most recent encounters against Auger-Aliassime to take a 3-2 lead in their head-to-head rivalry
Medvedev has made at least the semi-final on his last three visits to Beijing
Last year's runner-up Tien has a record of 31 wins from 49 matches in 2026
Zverev has won 56 of his 69 matches this season
Read more tennis betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
