Scouting Report: Defending champ Baez joined by Cerundolo, Mannarino in Winston-Salem

The North American hard-court swing continues this week at the Winston-Salem Open, where Sebastian Baez will be the top seed for his title defence. The Argentine will face stiff competition from the likes of Francisco Cerundolo and 2022 champion Adrian Mannarino.

ATPTour.com looks at five things to watch in Winston-Salem.

1) Defending champ Baez: The 23-year-old Argentine won his first tour-level title on hard courts last year in Winston-Salem, winning four three-setters on his run. Baez has backed that up with clay trophies in Rio de Janeiro and Santiago this year, with five of his six ATP Tour crowns coming on that surface. He will bid to improve upon his 4-6 hard-court record this season after a second-round exit at the Cincinnati ATP Masters 1000.

Baez will be joined in Winston-Salem by fellow Argentines Cerundolo, Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Mariano Navone and Federico Coria, with Cerundolo receiving a wild card into the singles draw.

2) Former champ Mannarino: After rising to a career-high PIF ATP Ranking of No. 17 at the start of 2024, Mannarino has struggled to an 8-22 record this season. The 36-year-old Frenchman will hope memories of his 2022 title run in Winston-Salem — when he won 11 consecutive sets — can spark a resurgence of form. 

3) Michelsen, Opelka carry home hopes: Alex Michelsen, a #NextGenATP star at 19, thrilled home fans in Cincinnati by giving Jannik Sinner all he could handle in a tight second-round defeat that will leave him eager to return to the match court. The No. 57 in the PIF ATP Rankings will be the top-ranked American in the draw, where Reilly Opelka was given a late wild card as he continues his injury comeback.

4) Italians in action: Italians Luciano Darderi and Lorenzo Sonego compete in Winston-Salem. Fifth seed Darderi won his maiden tour-level title earlier this year in Cordoba and is having a career-best season. Sonego earned a victory in Montreal earlier this month and will hope to add to his three tour-level titles.

5) Lammons/Withrow defend doubles crown: Americans Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow are back after winning their fourth tour-level doubles title as a team last year in Winston-Salem. The pair has doubled its trophy tally since then, most recently triumphing in back-to-back weeks on home soil in Atlanta and Washington. Other title challengers include Neal Skupski and Michael Venus, Austin Krajicek and Jean-Julien Rojer, and Nikola Mektic and Wesley Koolhof.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]