On Wednesday at the ATP Cup, Serbia will try to take the top spot in Group A out of Spain’s hands. Stefanos Tsitsipas is scheduled to face Nikoloz Basilashvili, but both players are a bit uncertain having withdrawn from singles matches in this year’s edition. Who do you think will prevail?
Filip Krajinovic vs Pablo Carreno Busta
Head-to-head: 2-2
Filip Krajinovic won their only hard-court meeting in Stockholm three years ago, on the way to his maiden ATP title. Both players have scored two wins at the ATP Cup so far, defeating Viktor Durasovic and Alejandro Tabilo. They should provide each other with a sterner test. Pablo Carreno Busta’s hard-court game has been improving and the Spaniard’s forehand remains a very underrated weapon. If the 30-year-old can maintain control over the rallies and move Krajinovic around, he should be able to take it.
Prediction: Carreno Busta in 3
Dusan Lajovic vs Roberto Bautista Agut
Head-to-head: Bautista Agut 6-0
Roberto Bautista Agut has a dominant lead in the head-to-head, including a straight-set win at the ATP Cup two years ago. The Spaniard had an uneven 2021 campaign but kicked off the next season well with straight-set wins over Casper Ruud and Cristian Garin. Meanwhile, Dusan Lajovic had to retire in the deciding set against the Chilean, making his ability to produce his best tennis (or even to come out onto the court at all) be under a question mark.
Prediction: Bautista Agut in 2
Michail Pervolarakis vs Aleksandre Metreveli
Head-to-head: First meeting
Two of the lowest-ranked players to compete in the ATP Cup this year have predictably lost their first two matches, although Aleksandre Metreveli was able to take a set off Hubert Hurkacz. Still, the Georgian won’t be favored coming into this clash. Michail Pervolarakis had a great 2021 campaign, reaching ITF M25 finals at Johannesburg and Afula, while his opponent struggled to make an impact at that level of competition. Taking a set off Hurkacz was a great feat, but it’s the Greek who has a lot more potential going forward.
Prediction: Pervolarakis in 3
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Nikoloz Basilashvili
Head-to-head: Tsitsipas 2-1
Two players who skipped one of their singles matches so far. Stefanos Tsitsipas is curing an elbow injury but decided to play Diego Schwartzman on Monday and was able to give the Argentinian a challenge. Nikoloz Basilashvili played the same opponent two days earlier, losing in drastic fashion, having committed 36 unforced errors. The Georgian has an incredible ceiling, but it looks like he’s unlikely to play his best at the moment. Only that version of Basilashvili can potentially trouble Tsitsipas.
Prediction: Tsitsipas in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
