Thanasi Kokkinakis vs Laslo Djere Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Challenger Cagliari, Italy Men Singles

Prediction published on 05/05/2023, 02:15  by Kennedy Kechula in Tennis Predictions

Fourth seed Laslo Djere and unseeded Thanasi Kokkinakis will on Friday go up against each other in the quarterfinals of the Sardegna Open in the ATP Challenger tour. Djere has defeated Kokkinakis before in their only previous encounter which also happened to be on clay in Rome in 2022. The winner this time will book a semifinal showdown with either second-seed Ben Shelton or the unseeded Giulio Zeppieri. Thanasi Kokkinakis is making his debut in Cagliari and has won his first two rounds without dropping a set. This is the perfect response after starting his clay court season with defeat in the first round in Madrid. The Australian has had a terrific start to the year as he has already secured one title with his win in the Manama Challenger in February. This allowed him to get back into the top 100 after dropping out with his topsy-turvy start to the season. He has since dropped out once again and is currently ranked 104th in the live ranking. Kokkinakis has won 19 of the 28 matches that he has played this year.

Laslo Djere has spent the majority of his season playing on clay surfaces and will hope this has him well-prepared not only to win this match with Kokkinakis but to go all the way and win it all. Just like Kokkinakis, Djere is also making his debut in Cagliari and as a seeded player, began the tournament in the second round where he won in straight sets against the alternate Jozef Kovalik. That win was his seventh in 13 matches played on clay. The Serbian hasn’t dominated his matchups so far in the year and only has two more wins (13) than losses (11). This form has seen him get in and out of the world’s top 60 and at one time had been ranked as high as 54th. He is currently at number 70 in the live ranking. Djere defeated Kakkinakis in the qualifying rounds at last year’s Italian Open in straight sets.