Miomir Kecmanovic vs Kei Nishikori Prediction & Betting Tips - Toronto, Canada

Prediction published on 09/08/2021, 16:57  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 09/08/2021 at 17:57 in ATP Toronto Predictions

Kei Nishikori got to the semi-finals in Washington last week. Now he's in Toronto for the National Bank Open and he faces Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round. The winner of this match takes on seventh seeded Hubert Hurkacz in the second round. Nishikori climbed 12 places in the rankings to 55th as a result of his efforts in Washington. The former world number four began this year as the world number 41 but was as low as 69th last month. The 31-year-old rolled back the years as he had wins over Cameron Norrie and Alexander Bublik (both in the top 40) before losing to Mackenzie McDonald in the last four. That continued his good form after making it to the last eight at the Tokyo Olympics beating Andrey Rublev but was eventually heavily beaten by Novak Djokovic. Nishikori has had one previous meeting with Kecmanovic. That was on clay last year with Kecmanovic winning in three sets after taking the first.

Miomir Kecmanovic is the world number 59 but has dropped 21 places since March. That month had started well for him as he got to the last four in a clay court tournament held in Argentina. He went through an inconsistent spell until reaching the last eight of another clay tournament, this time in Belgrade where he was beaten by Novak Djokovic; The rest of the European clay court season was disappointing though and he lost in the second round at Roland Garros and then at Wimbledon. He lost in the second round at the Olympics and was beaten by the then world number 86 Ricardas Berankis in his first match in Washington last week. Nishikori is clearly in the better form and can get the win here.