Lloyd Harris vs Aslan Karatsev Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Dubai Open

Prediction published on 19/03/2021, 17:49  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 19/03/2021 at 19:00 in Tennis Predictions

Aslan Karatsev began this year ranked 114 in the world, he's due to be number 33 next week. He began the year with a run to the last four of the Australian Open. He lost in straight sets to evenual champion Novak Djokovic but showed just what he is capable of. In last week's Doha tournament he took world number three to a final set and has again been in top form this week in Dubai. He hasn't had an easy draw that is for sure. He's beaten four seeds this week with wins over Dan Evans, Lorenzo Sonego, Jannik Sinner (who he lost the first set to in their quarter final) and on Friday, number two seeded Andrey Rublev. In terms of points scored this year, Karatsev only has four players above him. The search for players who can take over from the regular winners might just have found someone capable of rising to the top ranking positions.

This week of shocks sees wild card Karatsev take on qualifier and world number 81, Lloyd Harris from South Africa. Harris wasn't even the top seed in the qualifying rounds for this tournament. He was the second seed and hoped to do better than he did last week when losing in the first qualifying round in Doha. He made it through qualifying with two straight sets wins only dropping nine games. The first round saw him take on Chris O'Connell and he had to come from a set down to get into the second round. His form improved in the second round as he beat struggling top seed Dominic Thiem in straight sets. The last 16 saw him beat 14th seeded Filip Krajanovic without losing a set. A tougher task lay ahead in the quarters as he had to again go to three sets to get the better of Kei Nishikori. In the last four, Harris beat third seeded Denis Shapovalov, again winning after losing the first set. It's his second ATP Tour final, the previous being in Adelaide when losing to Andrey Rublev last year. Karatsev has looked the most impressive player, go for him to win this final.