Matteo Arnaldi vs Kei Nishikori Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP National Bank Open

Prediction published on 10/08/2024, 14:18  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 10/08/2024 at 15:15 in Tennis Predictions

Kei Nishikori has been having a great run in Montreal this week. He takes on fellow unseeded player Matteo Arnaldi for a place in the last four of the Rogers Cup. Can the Japanese player make it into the semi-finals? Read our match prediction.

Nishikori had only played five matches in 2024 before this hard court Masters event. He's now in his first ATP Tour quarter-final since September 2023. Three matches have had to be won to get to the last eight, the first time since 2021 he's won three consecutive matches in an ATP Tour event.

Wins have come against Alex Michelsen (after losing the first set), eighth-seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and then on Saturday he beat Nuno Borges. At least he had yesterday off due to the rain delay but now has to play twice on Saturday.

Matteo Arnaldi is the world number 45 and has risen to 37th as a result of reaching the last eight. If he can beat Nishikori that'll take him into the top 30 and a possible seeding at the US Open. He's certainly relished a return to hard courts after poor results on grass and clay.

This is only his second quarter-final of the year and his first in seven months. He also had to come from a set down to win his first round match. The Italian beat 15th seed Karen Khachanov in round two and then took on Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in round three on Saturday.

Again, he lost the first set but levelled the scores and was 3-0 up in the decider when his opponent retired.  We tip Arnaldi to get the victory here.