Nikoloz Basilashvili vs Mikhail Kukushkin Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Montpellier

Prediction published on 28/01/2025, 04:53  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 28/01/2025 at 05:01 in Tennis Predictions

Qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili and unseeded Mikhail Kukushkin, will meet in the opening round of the Open Occitanie. This will be their third career meeting and the winner will next play Harold Mayot or Arthur Rinderknech. Below is our prediction for this match.

Nikoloz Basilashvili is competing in Montpellier for the seventh time. He has made it as far as the second round in his last two appearances and will hope to progress even further this season.

The Georgian has had a positive start to 2025, claiming seven wins from nine outings. This has allowed the former ATP top 20 player to move up into the top 170 places.

Injuries and a loss of form have hampered the five-time tour champion but he will hope this is all behind him. Basilashvili defeated Titouan Droguet in his final qualifier.

Mikhail Kukushkin is having an inconsistent start to the year and after six matches, he has managed just three wins. The Kazakh is coming off a second round exit at the Quimper Challenger.

That was his third setback in the last four fixtures. The 37-year-old is yet to win a main draw tie at a tour event. But having defeated Basilashvili the last time they faced off, he will be confident of changing this.

Kukushkin defeated Basilashvili last year in their only matchup on an outdoor hard court in the Challenger circuit. The former world number 39 is placed 111th in the live ranking.