Nikoloz Basilashvili vs Hubert Hurkacz Prediction & Betting Tips - Toronto, Canada

Prediction published on 12/08/2021, 09:23  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 12/08/2021 at 10:23 in ATP Toronto Predictions

Seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz takes on Nikoloz Basilashvili for a place in the last eight of the National Bank Open in Toronto. Hurkacz is the world number 13 and is bidding to win his second ATP 1000 tournament of the year. He won the Miami Open earlier in the year and has risen 22 places in the world rankings this year. He hasn't had to play a shot to get into the third round of this tournament. He was due to play Kei Nishikori in the second round but his opponent withdrew from the match. Recent form has seen Hurkacz reach the Wimbledon semi-finals and the second round at the Tokyo Olympics.

Nikoloz Basilashvili is the world number 42 but has been as high as 28 this year. He’s won two titles this year. His wins came in Doha on a hard court and then a clay court victory in Munich. His form dipped after that with only two wins from his next six matches. He got back in the groove when the grass court season began, getting to the last four of the Halle tournament but then lost to Andy Murray in the first round at Wimbledon. Basilashvili made it to the last 16 in Tokyo, losing to eventual gold medallist Alexander Zverev. This week in Toronto, he’s beaten rising star Jenson Brooksby after losing the first set and then in the second round, he beat 12th seeded Alex de Minaur for the loss of two games. This looks like a tight match and the slight preference is for Hurkacz to get the win, it might take three sets though.