Day 3 at the ATP Adelaide International 2 will determine our eight quarterfinalists. Top seed Andrey Rublev will face defending champion Thanasi Kokkinakis in a blockbuster night-session match. We also have predictions for the other four matches on Wednesday in a separate article. Who will advance?
ATP Adelaide 2 Day 3 Predictions
John Millman vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Head-to-head: Davidovich Fokina 1-0 Millman
It beggars belief that Millman wasn’t granted a wild card at any of the tuneup events. However, on the bright side, he got one for the Australian Open. At 33, he has never looked fresher. He has got that athleticism to skid around the court and puts total effort into almost every point. Those qualities saw him come out on top of a grueling battle against Albert Ramos Vinolas on Tuesday. But after watching Davidovich Fokina tear apart Brandon Nakashima with such ease, I struggle to entertain an upset in this one.
Prediction: Davidovich Fokina in 3
Roberto Bautista Agut vs Robin Haase
Head-to-head: Bautista Agut 2-1 Haase
Bautista Agut stunned Rublev in Adelaide 1 before losing to eventual finalist Sebastian Korda. That wasn’t a shabby way to start the year. He is playing in his 19th season on the pro tour–which is a testament to his longevity and fitness record. Robin Haase got here as a lucky loser and upstaged Pune finalist Benjamin Bonzi in an epic opener. Getting to this stage is cause enough for celebration for the former world #33. Expect Bautista Agut to be in full control of proceedings.
Prediction: Bautista Agut in 2
Jason Kubler vs Miomir Kecmanovic
Head-to-head: Kecmanovic 1-0 Kubler
It has been a quick turnaround for Jason Kubler, whose name is gaining a lot of traction. Kubler, as you may recall, deputized for the injured Nick Kyrgios at the United Cup and was unbeaten in his two singles matches. What was even pertinent to note, he scored both wins against Top-50 level opposition. He encountered some stern resistance in his opening match here but dug deep to oust Argentina’s clay-court specialist Tomas Martin Etcheverry in straight sets. Kecmanovic has beaten the Aussie before, but that was almost five years ago and on clay. The Serb will likely win again, but his game looks slightly unrefined for my take in the opening few matches. Kubler would relish being the underdog.
Prediction: Kubler in 3
Andrey Rublev vs Thanasi Kokkinakis
Head-to-head: first meeting
Rublev is the headline act this week, but he was keen to avoid this draw. Kokkinakis is the defending champion and has some swagger in his game when he plays in his home city. While the Russian will be heavily favored to win this, the Aussie might get his bit between the teeth and feed on the crowd’s support. Another defeat could spell a mini-crisis of some sort for the power-hitting Rublev with the Australian Open around the corner. I think he will bounce back from last week’s shocking loss.
Prediction: Rublev in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
