Andrey Rublev vs Botic Van De Zandschulp Prediction & Betting Tips - St. Petersburg, Russia

Prediction published on 28/10/2021, 11:07  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 28/10/2021 at 12:49 in Tennis Predictions

Top seeded Andrey Rublev is three wins away from retaining his St Peterburg Open title. He takes on unseeded Dutchman Botic Van de Zandschlup in the quarter final, the winner taking on either Marin Cilic, Roberto Bautista Agut or McKenzie McDonald. Rublev is the world number six but fifth in the ATP Race and has confirmed his place for the ATP Tour Finals. A good run here and in Paris next week will see him climb above the injured Rafael Nadal into fifth place in the rankings. The Russian has had a highly consistent year but still only won one title. That was in Rotterdam seven months ago and he's lost in three finals since then. A win here will be his 49th singles victory of a very busy year. This week has so far seen him  beat Ilya Ivashka in straight sets.

Botic Van de Zandschlup began this week ranked 69th in the world. It's been a good year for the 26-year-old as he began 2021 ranked 156th and was still 118th in August. His ranking has improved thanks to reaching the US Open quarter final and two Challenger Tour semi-finals. Since the US Open, he lost in the first round at Indian Wells (after winning two qualifying matches) and lost in the last 16 at last week's tournament in Antwerp. This week, he again had to qualify and had to come from a set down to get past Evgeny Donskoy. Once in the main draw, he's beaten qualifier Yoshihito Nishioka and eighth seeded Sebastian Korda. Rublev can win this in straight sets to reach the semi-final.