The final at the ATP Maharashtra Open is set after a great week of tennis in Pune. But will the Czech Republic’s Jiri Vesely claim his second tour-level title five years after his first or will it be Egor Gerasimov who emerges triumphant in western India?
Maharashtra Open Final Prediction
Jiri Vesely vs Egor Gerasimov
Head-to-head: Gerasimov 1-0 Vesely
For the second day running, Vesely rallied from the brink of defeat, saving four match points in a three-hour battle against the spirited Ricardas Berankis. The Czech had been a set and a break down, but managed to force a decider, before again falling behind in the third-set tiebreak. But Berankis, who had been clinical at the net throughout, proved unable to put his man away, missing a simple volley up 6-5 to give Vesely a path back into the match.
And Vesely was not slow to take advantage, ultimately winning the tiebreak nine points to seven to claim a 6-7 7-6 7-6 win. The key to his win was some excellent serving as he hammered down 28 aces, whilst hitting just seven double faults. Berankis, in a marked contrast, managed to hit only three aces compared with eight double faults, with that disparity from the line proving the difference between the two men.
Gerasimov, meanwhile, turned professional a decade ago, but only made his first tour-level semifinal last September, scoring a memorable win over US Open semifinalist Matteo Berrettini en route, before falling short there against Daniil Medvedev. But he has clearly taken confidence from that run, playing some excellent tennis to reach his first ATP final in Pune. Gerasimov beat James Duckworth in the semifinals without facing a break point.
Gerasimov and Vesely have never met at tour-level, but the Belarusian won the pair’s only previous meeting, which came in the second round of qualifying at the Dubai Tennis Championships last year. Vesely will be able to call upon his greater experience, but Gerasimov looks to be in good touch and, unlike Vesely, fatigue should not be an issue for the Belarusian. Indeed, expect his fresher legs to prove decisive at the Maharashtra Open.
Prediction: Gerasimov in 2
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