What Jun Hao needs to do to 'stay alive' in Paris
Debutant Jun Hao, who is ranked world No. 25, will potentially meet Japan's Kenta Nishimoto (No. 14) and Taiwan's Chou Tien Chen (No. 6) in difficult second and third round matches respectively.
The former Asian Junior champion has beaten several world top 10 players, including Tien Chen (head-to-head 1-1). Against Nishimoto, it's 3-2.
Jun Hao, 26, stands a fighting chance of making it to the quarter-finals and put himself in contention for a medal.
"Jun Hao has a positive draw, and there are chances (of good results) if he performs at his highest level and stays consistent every day (in Paris)," said Jonassen.
"For now, we need to focus on the next 10 days and get our final preparations done."
Jun Hao should clear the first round against Switzerland's world No. 147 Tobias Kuenzi.
However, much will depend on his ability to string together more than one big win after that, as his inconsistency has stymied his chances of achieving better results.
Jun Hao defeated Nishimoto in the first round of the China Open last month, but lost to Thailand's world No. 3 Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the second. At the Singapore Open, he overcame Indonesia's world No. 5 Jonatan Christie in the second round but lost to Kunlavut in the last eight.
At the India Open in January, Jun Hao started well by toppling China's world No. 4 Li Shi Feng, but was beaten by China's world No. 16 Weng Hong Yang next.
So it will be important for Jun Hao to "show up in every round", as pointed out by Jonassen, in order to make a strong impact in Paris.
Jonassen, who led the Danish team at the Olympics last year, is well aware of the court conditions at the Adidas Arena in Paris.
"As for the court conditions, I believe we have a good understanding after last year's Olympics in terms of what to expect," added Jonassen.
Though Jun Hao didn't qualify for the Paris Olympics, he had competed in the Adidas Arena at the French Open earlier.
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