Former Top 3 stars Stan Wawrinka and Dominic Thiem could meet in the second round at the Astana Open, where top seed Tallon Griekspoor leads the field.
The Swiss Wawrinka is the eighth seed at the ATP 250 hard-court event and opens against American Marcos Giron. If he advances, he could play debutant Thiem in the second round if the Austrian can overcome Juan Pablo Varillas.
Wawrinka and Thiem have not met since 2017, when the former triumphed in a deciding-set tie-break in Indian Wells. Three-time Grand Slam champion Wawrinka leads Thiem 3-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.
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Home favourite Alexander Bublik is also in the same quarter. The third-seed Kazakhstani, who reached the semi-finals in Astana in 2021, opens against Marton Fucsovics or Sebastian Ofner. Second seed Sebastian Baez is chasing his fourth title of the season. He is in the bottom half of the draw and is seeded to meet eighth seed Adrian Mannarino in the quarter-finals.
Dutchman Griekspoor faces Roberto Carballes Baena or a qualifier in his opening match, while fourth seed Jiri Lehecka meets Bernabe Zapata Miralles or a qualifier. Griekspoor and Lehecka are both in the top half.
Wild card Hamad Medjedovic will be aiming for a deep run to boost his Next Gen ATP Finals qualifications chances. The Serbian, currently ninth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Jeddah, plays seventh seed Laslo Djere in the first round.
