Holger Rune and Matteo Berrettini clashed in Cincinnati two months in the past, and now they're operating into one another at ATP Shanghai. It’s a brutal draw for each, with the Italian representing a a lot greater degree of play than his rating suggests (if wholesome). Who do you suppose will come out on high?
ATP Shanghai Day 4 Predictions
Karen Khachanov vs Marcos Giron
Head-to-head: First assembly
This hasn’t been a simple season for Karen Khachanov, however it looks like he might need gotten one thing entering into Beijing with solely Carlos Alcaraz stopping him within the quarterfinals (and that first set was moderately hard-fought). It’s fairly robust to guess how his dynamic with Marcos Giron will work and it’s stunning that they haven’t confronted one another but. While each play a fairly high-percentage fashion, it’s nonetheless Khachanov who ought to possess a a lot greater ceiling if he lastly begins feeling assured about his recreation.
Prediction: Khachanov in 3
Alexei Popyrin vs Miomir Kecmanovic
Head-to-head: Kecmanovic 3-1
Miomir Kecmanovic used to love this matchup rather a lot, however they haven’t confronted one another since 2021. These days it’s Alexei Popyrin who made a giant splash not too long ago and can be making an attempt to take care of that Montreal/US Open momentum. That opening-round loss to Tomas Machac in Tokyo shouldn’t trouble him an excessive amount of given how nicely the Czech was taking part in your entire occasion. The type is sufficient to grant Popyrin the standing of a favourite right here, however he’ll have to withstand the temptation of making an attempt to blast by means of Kecmanovic with too huge a concentrate on conservative patterns.
Prediction: Popyrin in 3
Taylor Fritz vs Terence Atmane
Head-to-head: First assembly
Terence Atmane is repeating his run from final yr, when he additionally certified and gained his opening spherical in the principle draw. Now the query turns into if he can beat a seed this time. Taylor Fritz’s loss to Arthur Fils in Tokyo seems a lot better in hindsight after the Frenchman gained the title. The absolute peak model of Atmane’s recreation might hassle him with all of the weaponry of the Frenchman doubtlessly making him stretch for balls. But the extra possible model is simply the underdog retaining it comparatively shut along with his serve and that’s it.
Prediction: Fritz in 2
Holger Rune vs Matteo Berrettini
Head-to-head: Rune 2-1
This was a blockbuster match at an early stage of the occasion in Cincinnati and issues aren’t any totally different right here. Matteo Berrettini was compelled to retire in Tokyo final week, however it appears that evidently issues are nice for him health-wise now after defeating Christopher O’Connell. But this can be a match of nice margins and possibly Holger Rune can flip health into some form of a bonus (even when it’s uncommon it really works out like that for the Dane)? After all, he nonetheless has all of the instruments required to maintain progressing and simply wants stabilization to kind issues out.
Prediction: Rune in 3
Main Photo Credit: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun/USA TODAY NETWORK
