This Thursday at the ATP 250 event in Bastad will see the completion of the round of 16, with several interesting matches in prospect, with no top ranked players but several high level players on this surface looking to collect points or maybe even a title before the U.S. hard court season begins. It will surely be a fantastic day of tennis in Bastad.
ATP Bastad Day 4 Predictions
Nikoloz Basilashvili vs Thiago Agustin Tirante
Head-to-head: first meeting
Basilashvili had a good run in Rome and looked to be ready to climb back up the rankings, but he has failed to get any big results since. Bastad is an opportunity to do so, but he faces a very difficult opponent here. While Basilashvili’s game might have the better upside, in terms of consistency Tirante is definitely the more solid player and should have the edge here all things considered.
Prediction: Tirante in 3
Alejandro Tabilo vs Lautaro Midon
Head-to-head: Tabilo 1-0 Midon
Tabilo had a very poor grass court season, losing every match he played, but now he’s back to the surface that got him as high as his current ranking of #31. Tabilo is always a threat to go far or even win these smaller clay court events and it is highly unlikely that Midon can produce the kind of level required to overcome him here.
Prediction: Tabilo in 2
Sebastian Baez vs Jesper De Jong
Head-to-head: Baez 1-0 De Jong
Baez is always one of the favorites in clay events below Masters 1000 level, and this is no exception. This is his last opportunity to get some big points on the board before the U.S. hard court and then the indoor season, so he will certainly be desperate to go far here. That said, De Jong has proved to be quite solid on clay himself and won’t make things easier for the Argentine.
Prediction: Baez in 3
Andrey Rublev vs Andrea Pellegrino
Head-to-head: first meeting
Rublev has been slowly going down the rankings and even been unable to reach Slam quarterfinals in recent times. While his ambitions certainly go far beyond winning a second Bastad title, getting it could certainly give him some confidence as he desperately looks to find his best form again and return to the Top 10.
Prediction: Rublev in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
