Mikhail Kukushkin vs Yunchaokete Bu Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Hangzhou Open

Prediction published on 21/09/2024, 01:23  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 21/09/2024 at 01:27 in Tennis Predictions

Wildcard Bu Yunchaokete has progressed to the quarter-finals in Hangzhou and will take on unseeded Mikhail Kukushkin next. This Sunday clash will mark their first career meeting. Let’s have a look at the stats defining the match and a prediction.

Kukushkin won his first two outings at this tournament in straight sets. He defeated Luca Darderi in the first round and then compatriot Alexander Shevchenko in his last match.

The Kazakh is having a strong year and so far has compiled a 47-25 record. He has excelled on hard courts, where he has managed 24 wins out of 32, resulting in two challenger titles.

The 36-year-old hasn’t won a tour quarter-final since 2019 and has this year lost five times in this round at challenger level. His performances this week have bumped him 13 places up in the live ranking to 99th.

Bu Yunchaokete is having his best performance at a tour event. He has progressed to the quarter-finals at the top level for the first time. This makes him only the sixth Chinese player to do so in the Open era.

To reach this round, Yunchaokete posted the biggest win of his career; a three-set victory over second seed Karen Khachanov. The 22-year-old took the opening set via a tiebreaker and then won the decider more comfortably by six games to three.

Yunchaokete, who has compiled a 42-19 record alternating between the tour and challenger circuits, has moved up 16 places in the live ranking. He is now placed 108th which is a new career high.

The winner here will play Roberto Carballes Baena, Mitchell Krueger, Zhang Zhizhen or Mattia Bellucci.