Alexei Popyrin vs Alexander Bublik Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Qatar Open

Prediction published on 21/02/2024, 13:00  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 21/02/2024 at 16:14 in Tennis Predictions

Fourth seed Alexander Bublik had a tough match in round two of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. He survived and now faces unseeded Alexei Popyrin for a place in the last eight. Awaiting the winner is either second seed Karen Khachanov or in-form Emil Ruusuvouri who is unseeded. Bublik received a bye into round two but then found himself a set down against Marton Fucsovics. He fought back well to beat the unseeded player, losing only seven games in the next couple of sets. Bublik is 21st in the live rankings which is a career high. In the Live ATP Race, he's in an impressive 13th with 460 points. Bublik has won one title this year, being successful in Montpellier. He also made it to the last four in the Adelaide International.

Alexei Popyin has had to win two matches to get to the last eight in Doha. Both have gone to a final set with wins over wild card Abdullah Shelbayh and qualifier Hugo Grenier. Those two victories have taken the Australian to 42nd in the live list and a win here could see him set a new career high beating his previous best of 39th. Popyrin has won both of his previous matches against Bublik but those wins came in 2018 and 2021. This year has seen him win four of his six matches but this is the first time he's got past round two of a tournament in 2024. We tip Bublik to get the win.