Shintaro Mochizuki vs Alexei Popyrin Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Japan Open

Prediction published on 19/10/2023, 19:16  by Joseph King | Modified on 19/10/2023 at 19:17 in Tennis Predictions

The quarter-finals of the ATP Tokyo Open sees Wild Card qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki taking on Alexei Popyrin. Awaiting the winner is a spot in the semi-final and a matchup against fourth-seed Alex de Minaur or Aslan Karatsev. Mochizuki will be looking to keep his remarkable run going with another upset victory over the heavily favored Alexei Popyrin. The 20-year-old pulled off a massive upset in the previous round, knocking out ATP 10th-ranked Taylor Fritz as an 8/1 underdog. The result was even more bizarre given Fritz had strolled through the first set as a 6-0 winner. Perhaps the American let his guard down after the dominant first set performance, which allowed the Japanese to win the next two straight 6-4, 7-6. Mochizuki also knocked out Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the first round which put an end to a four match losing streak. On the year, Mochizuki has played in 64 matches, winning 35 (54.7%).

Alexei Popyrin will surely have taken notice of his opponents accomplishment and shouldn’t be taking the 215th-ranked player lightly. Popyrin, who is ranked 41st, claimed an upset win of his own in the first round by knocking out 15th-ranked Karen Khachanov in straight sets. He followed that up with a comeback 2-1 victory over Cristian Garin in the second-round to advance to this stage. In an almost mirror image to his opponent today, Popyrin was also suffering through a four match losing streak prior to this tournament. The 24-year-old’s best finish this season saw him crowned champion of the Croatian Open at Umag where he bested Stan Wawrinka in the final. He also made it to the fourth round of the Rome Masters and the quarter-final of the Cincinnati Masters in August. Popyrin has a record of 36 wins and 25 losses on the year.