Sunday’s final at the 2026 ATP Hong Kong Open promises to be a showdown not to miss. Top seed Lorenzo Musetti already sealed his debut in the top five after his semifinal win, but the Italian will still be aiming for his third ATP Tour title with a win in the final. Meanwhile, second seed Alexander Bublik is vying for his ninth ATP Tour title, and a spot in the top 10 — he would be the first male player from Kazakhstan to reach the upper echelon of the men’s singles game. As alwyas, we here at LWOT are offering our prediction for the final, but who will come out on top?

ATP Hong Kong Final Prediction
Lorenzo Musetti vs Alexander Bublik

Head-to-head: Bublik 2-1 Musetti

The backstory of this top-seeded matchup is misleading. Bublik won the pair’s only completed match at the start of 2024, beating Musetti 6-3 6-7 (4) 7-5 in the quarterfinals of the ATP 250 Adelaide tournament. At that time, both players saw their rankings hover around the Top 30 mark. The other two matches between the rivals ended in an injury retirement, with Musetti claiming their latest meeting after Bublik abandoned the match early in the third set.

Bublik encountered a slightly easier path to the final. He took out Marcos Giron 3-6 6-4 6-2 in the semifinals, and hasn’t faced a Top 50 player yet. Musetti, on the other hand, had to battle against Andrey Rublev in a 6-7 (3) 7-5 6-4 thriller, hitting 43 winners.

Both players are known for their skillful hotshots and unexpectedness. Yet, better consistency and more maturity helped Musetti and Bublik rise the ranks in 2025, with the two having their best seasons. Musetti arguably has the better forehand, but Bublik’s serve might be the weapon that impacts the match. The Kazakh isn’t afraid to hit two first serves, but he’s also able to mix up his serve pace on a whim. Or he’ll hit an underarm serve.

Musetti hasn’t won an ATP title since 2022, a surprising gap in his resume. While he’s been battle tested from the semifinals, it might be tough to back up a tough win. On the other hand, perhaps the Italian has the advantage because Bublik hasn’t faced a big name yet this week.

Yet, Bublik is confident as ever in these ATP 250 tournaments, and he won seven of his last eight finals. On a good day, the No. 2 seed has more weapons than almost anyone on tour. On these fast courts, he might be more comfortable in this matchup.

Prediction: Bublik in 3

Main photo credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports