Lorenzo Sonego vs Sebastian Korda Prediction & Betting Tips - San Diego, USA, Qualifying

Prediction published on 29/09/2021, 11:52  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 29/09/2021 at 13:49 in Tennis Predictions

Lorenzo Sonego is seeded ninth in the San Diego Open. The world number 23 takes on unseeded Sebastian Korda in the second round. The winner will face either second seeded Casper Ruud or Andy Murray in the last eight. Sonego had a good clay court season, highlighted by winning a tournament in Cagliari.  He had more success in his native Italy, when getting to the last four in the Rome Masters beating Rublev, Thiem and taking a set off Novak Djokovic. Aside from a final in the Eastbourne grass court event and the last 16 at Wimbledon, he's not been going deep in tournaments. In his last two events, he's been knocked out by a player ranked outside the top 100. He beat Nikoloz Basilashvili in straight sets to reach this second round.

Sebastian Korda is world ranked 42nd, a career high. He began the year in 118th position and in terms of ranking points earned this year, he's 26th (seven places less than his opponent). Korda is bidding to reach the last eight of a tournament for the first time since the Halle grass court tournament in June. This is his first tournament since the US Open where he had to retire in the second set of his first round match against Nikoloz Basilashvili. He beat Tommy Paul in three sets (middle set lost) in the first round of this event. Earlier this year, he recorded two wins over Sonego, beating him on a hard court in Montpellier and then on clay in Parma  Back him to win again, possibly in three sets.