Like at home !

First confrontation between the two players very close in the ATP rankings.

We obviously have a player in much better shape than the other, I named Yoshihito Nishioka. We followed him to Zhuhai and Beijing. Like last season, he finished the year with a bang. We'll see if it continues, but I don't see any reason... Altmaier for his part has only played two short matches since his defeat against Z at the US Open. Not a lot of reference points for the German. We know his ability to thwart certain good players. But it is also Nishioka's credo. The Japanese in good shape means able to get into the ball, change trajectories, deflect with his left-handed paw. On Daniel Almaier's one-handed backhand, it can have its effect. The fast surface here would also suit the German better. It can surprise. But does he have the form and playing time required to beat Nishioka in his first appearance in Shanghai?