Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Roman Safiullin Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP National Bank Open

Prediction published on 06/08/2024, 05:38  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 06/08/2024 at 05:59 in Tennis Predictions

Unseeded pair Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Roman Safiullin meet in round one of the hard court National Bank Open. A tough match is on the way for the winner with third seed Daniil Medvedev to be faced in round two. Here's our match prediction.

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is the world number 42 but down at 62nd in the ATP Live Race. He'll need some good wins in the next few weeks if the Spaniard wants to be seeded at the upcoming US Open. Fokina didn't play at the Olympics and has spent the last two weeks playing hard court events.

He made it to the quarter-finals in Atlanta and then the last 16 in Washington. In all, he's reached three hard court quarter-finals this year. One saw him beaten by Medvedev so he could have a chance of revenge in the next round if beating Safiullin.

Roman Safiullin did take part in the Olympics and lost to eventual silver medal winner Carlos Alcaraz in the last 16. The Russian is ranked 66th in the world and down at 107th in the ATP Live Race. His year began well with a run to the last four in Brisbane in January but it's been disappointing since.

Safiullin has failed to reach any further quarter-finals on the ATP Tour. At one stage this year, he lost five successive matches. The one semi-final he did reach was on the Challenger Tour and played on clay. We tip Fokina to win this match.