Day 3 at the ATP Almaty Open will feature several intriguing matches, such as former Cincinnati champion Borna Coric facing Canadian youngster Gabriel Diallo, and local star Alexander Shevchenko facing the mercurial and very talented Aslan Karatsev. We also predict the rest of the day’s matches in a separate article. Who do you think will advance?
ATP Almaty Day 3 Predictions
James Duckworth vs Aleksandar Vukic
Head-to-head: First meeting
A very hard to predict all-Australian clash in Kazakhstan. On paper, the pair is very close, and while this is their first meeting in an ATP Tour-level main draw, they have faced each other twice at the qualifying and Challenger level, splitting their encounters, bout on outdoor hard courts. This could go either way, but the very slight edge could go to Vukic, considering Duckworth was playing a Challenger final in China just a couple of days ago and could pay the price in the form of fatigue.
Prediction: Vukic in 3
Borna Coric vs Gabriel Diallo
Head-to-head: First meeting
Gabriel Diallo is in nice form, winning seven out of his last ten matches and losing only to very solid opponents in Mackenzie McDonald and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. His serve is a massive weapon on indoor hard courts and Coric is going to have trouble figuring it out. But the Croat looked very convincing in his victory over Marozsan, which came as somewhat of a surprise given his terrible form as of late. He is the more talented player out of the two and he posseses a very nice serve himself. Diallo’s serve will make it very close, but if Coric can put enough returns in, he should eventually have the advantage.
Prediction: Coric in 3
Alexander Shevchenko vs Aslan Karatsev
Head-to-head: Shevchenko 1-0 Karatsev
Local star Alexander Shevchenko got two very nice wins against resurging compatriot Mijai Kukushkin who had looked very good in his qualifying matches. He will very likely be hungry here, since he has a navigable draw to go far at home. But Aslan Karatsev looked seriously impressive and composed in his dispatching of Zhizhen Zhang, and on indoor hard courts, he’s such a clean striker that he should be favoured against Shevchenko. The Russian should avenge his heartbreaking Roland Garros defeat and spoil the Khazakh party en route to the quarterfinals.
Prediction: Karatsev in 3
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
