Vasek Pospisil vs Roman Safiullin Prediction & Betting Tips - Koblenz, Germany

Prediction published on 04/02/2023, 16:28  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 04/02/2023 at 19:17 in Tennis Predictions

Second seeded Roman Safiullin faces Vasil Pospisil (seeded third) in the final of the 2023 Koblenz Open. Safiullin began the week ranked 100th in the world but has risen to 85th in the live rankings (a new career-high) and can climb a further three places if winning this final. At one stage last year he was 163rd in the rankings so he's certainly moving in the right direction now. He won two titles on the Challenger Tour last year, both on this hard court surface. 2023 got off to a good start for Safiullin with a run to the last 16 of the Adelaide International which was a main ATP Tour event. He lost in the first round of the Australian Open to Denis Kudla but has had a tough route to this final. He's dropped a set in each of his four matches and had to come from behind to get the win twice so far this week. His semi-final saw him have to do that against Raphael Collignon. The first set was lost 7-5 but he won the next two for the loss of just three games. He's been finishing matches strongly with only nine games being lost in the final set and six of those were in a second round tie-break.

Vasek Pospisil was ranked as high as 25th nine years ago but started this week in 113th position. His run to this final has seen him rise to 100th and he'll be 92nd if winning this title. The Canadian will be out for revenge after losing to Safiullin in the second qualifying round of this year's first Adelaide International after winning the first set on a tie-break. He did the same in the second Adelaide event, winning the first set against Soonwoo Kwon on a tie-break but ending up losing to the eventual champion. In the Australian Open, he took on fellow Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime (seeded seventh) and again he won the first set but this time lost the next three. This week has seen him get out of that habit with four straight sets victories, though one required him to win two tie-breaks. Back Safiullin to win this final.