Soonwoo Kwon vs Jack Draper Prediction & Betting Tips - Adelaide International

Prediction published on 01/01/2023, 10:04  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 01/01/2023 at 12:56 in Tennis Predictions

2022 was a breakthrough year for Britain's Jack Draper. He begins the new year with a first round match in the Adelaide International against qualifier Soon-woo Kwon. Draper began 2022 as the world number 265 but by the end of the year had moved all the way up to 42nd in the rankings. He's up to 40th now and a good run this month could see him edge into the seeding positions for the Australian Open. Draper ended last year reaching the semi-finals of the Next Gen Finals. If he wins this match, his second round opponent could be the eighth seeded Karen Khachanov (or Pedro Cachin) who beat him in the US Open last year but only after the British player retired hurt during the third set with the match level at 1-1. Draper won several titles on the Challenger Tour in the first half of 2022. His days on that tour are history now and he went on to reach two ATP Tour quarter finals and a semi-final. The pressure will be on him this year though as he attempts to continue his rise up the rankings.

Soon-woo Kwon began this tournament ranked 83rd in the world. 2022 saw him drop 30 places so he'll be looking for a better year. Kwon had to qualify to get into the main draw of the Adelaide International. He was the top seed in the qualifiers and beat Dominic Thiem in his first match for the loss of only five games. It was tougher in his final qualifier as he had to go to three sets (middle set lost) to get past Taro Daniel to set up this first round match against Draper. Kwon reached the last 16 of this tournament last year, losing to Mikael Ymer. He also got to the last 16 in the second Adelaide International held soon after, so has the pressure on him to defend the points earned in those events. This is a tough first round draw though and our predictionis a win for the British player.