Alexei Popyrin vs Miomir Kecmanovic Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Shanghai Masters

Prediction published on 03/10/2024, 12:30  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 03/10/2024 at 14:28 in ATP Shanghai Masters Predictions

Alexei Popyrin looks to continue the good form he has shown in the second half of 2024. The 20th seed takes on unseeded Miomir Kecmanovic in the second round of the hard court Shanghai Masters, read our match prediction below.

Popyrin is the world number 24 which is just one place adrift of his career high. The Australian was outside the top 60 before he won the hard court Rogers Cup in Montreal two months ago. That saw him beat five top 20 players on his way to lifting the trophy.

He also made it to the last 16 of the US Open with a win over Novak Djokovic in the second round. Popyrin won two of his three matches in the Davis Cup but was beaten in his first match in Tokyo last week by Tomas Machac. He's 23rd in the ATP Live Race.

Miomir Kecmanovic has won three of his previous four matches against Popyrin. He's 2-1 up on hard courts but this is the first time they've faced each other since 2021 and Popyrin won that match. The last three have all seen a tie-break played, so a side bet on one here could be a winner.

Kecmanovic is the world number 55 but was as high as 27th last year. The Serb has already beaten one Australian in this tournament. Round one saw him beat Rinky Hijikata and he only dropped four games.

That's taken him to 52nd in the ATP Live Race. Kecmanovic had lost two of his previous three matches before getting that win over Hijikata. He hasn't won two successive matches in the main draw of an ATP Tour event since Wimbledon.

We tip Alexei Popyrin to win and set up a third round match against either ninth seed Grigor Dimitrov or unseeded Zizou Bergs.