ATP Tour

Scouting Report: Turin contenders Medvedev, Fils, Cobolli lead Almaty, Brussels, Lyon fields

The ATP Tour action this week takes place on the indoor hard courts of Almaty, Brussels and Lyon, where a host of players are chasing Nitto ATP Finals qualification spots across three ATP 250 events.

World No. 6 Daniil Medvedev is the top seed and defending champion at the Almaty Open, where he aims to strengthen his Nitto ATP Finals qualification bid, while Arthur Fils also looks to boost his Turin hopes when he competes at the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open in Brussels.

Another Turin hopeful, Flavio Cobolli, headlines at the newly relocated Grand Prix Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes in Lyon, with Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul also among those in action.

ATPTour.com breaks down five things to watch at all three events.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN ALMATY
1) Medvedev’s Turin push: Top seed and defending champion Medvedev heads to Almaty after reaching the semi-finals in Beijing and Shanghai. Currently sixth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, the 30-year-old opens his Almaty campaign against Sho Shimabukuro or Roman Safiullin.

2) Home hero Bublik returns: Alexander Bublik enters Almaty having reached the fourth round in Shanghai. Now the World No. 22, the Kazakhstani will hope to channel home support starting with his first match against Fabian Marozsan or countryman Timofey Skatov.

3) Former champ Khachanov: This year’s US Open semi-finalist, Khachanov recently advanced to the last eight in Beijing and the fourth round in Shanghai. The 30-year-old, who lifted the Almaty crown in 2024, will begin his title bid against Kazakhstani Zangar Nurlanuly or Tomas Machac.

4) Seeded contenders: Luciano Darderi, Andrey Rublev and former World No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas form a competitive group of seeds capable of deep runs. Second seed Darderi is a two-time ATP Tour titlist this season and will play his opening match in Almaty against Miomir Kecmanovic or James Duckworth.

5) Bublik/Nurlanuly join forces in doubles: Home heroes Bublik and Nurlanuly team up in the doubles draw, which also features Shanghai champions Lucas Miedler and Neil Oberleitner as the top seeds.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN BRUSSELS
1) Top seed Fils targets Turin: Fils is currently eighth in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin and looks to strengthen his Nitto ATP Finals bid. The Frenchman, who recently fell in the second round in Shanghai, leads the field in Brussels. The former event finalist will open against Jaume Munar or a qualifier.

2) Goffin’s last dance: Home hero David Goffin, who is competing in his final ATP Tour season, is set for one last appearance on home soil in Brussels. A former No. 7 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, Goffin reached the semi-finals on his debut in 2016 and the last eight in 2017 and 2022, when the tournament was held in Antwerp.

3) Blockx, Bergs among other Belgians in draw: Alexander Blockx, who earlier this season advanced to his first major quarter-final at the US Open, will lead the home charge alongside Goffin. Other home hopes in the draw include Zizou Bergs — who recently defeated Carlos Alcaraz in Shanghai — and last year’s semi-finalist Raphael Collignon.

4) Last year’s finalist Lehecka: Jiri Lehecka is the second seed at the ATP 250 event. The Czech, who earlier this month reached the final in Tokyo, advanced to the title match at the Belgian indoor hard-court event in 2025. The 24-year-old will play his opening match against Collignon or a qualifier/lucky loser.

5) Collignon/Goffin headline doubles: Belgians Goffin and Collignon have received a wild card into the doubles draw, which also featues this year’s Montreal and Cincinnati champions Orlando Luz and Rafael Matos.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN LYON
1) Cobolli top seed: Currently fifth in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin, Cobolli arrives in Lyon with a chance to close in on his Nitto ATP Finals debut. The Italian, who lost his opening match in Shanghai, leads the field in Lyon and will face Stan Wawrinka or Martin Landaluce in his opener.

2) Fritz, Paul eye Turin boost: Second seed Fritz will eye a deep run in Lyon to boost his Turin hopes. The American has earned only one win in each of his past two tournaments and is currently 13th in the Live Race. His fellow American Tommy Paul is 12th in the Live Race following his Shanghai quarter-final run, 295 points behind 10th-placed Alex de Minaur.

3) New home for the tournament: After 22 years in Marseille, the tournament has moved to Lyon for this year’s edition. Hopes for another home champion in the history of the French event will be led by Ugo Humbert, who lifted the crown in Marseille last year. Humbert will face countryman Corentin Moutet in the first round.

4) Next Gen Frenchman Balshaw: Felix Balshaw, 20, makes his tournament debut after claiming his maiden ATP Challenger trophy at the Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar last month. The 20-year-old is currently 11th in the PIF ATP Live Next Gen Race, aiming to qualify for the 20-and-under Next Gen ATP Finals for the first time.

5) Arribage & Olivetti's Turin quest: Theo Arribage and Albano Olivetti are the second seeds in the doubles draw. The Frenchmen are seventh in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings and aiming for their Nitto ATP Finals debut. They will face competition from top seeds Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool, who are 10th in the Live Doubles Teams Rankings.