Zhizhen Zhang vs Aslan Karatsev Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Japan Open

Prediction published on 18/10/2023, 17:30  by Joseph King | Modified on 18/10/2023 at 18:02 in Tennis Predictions

The round of 16 at the ATP Tokyo Open sees Zhang Zhizheng facing off against Aslan Karatsev. Both players pulled off impressive upsets in the round of 32 to advance to this stage. Zhang knocked off ATP 11th-ranked Hubert Hurkacz 2-1 while Karatsev eliminated sixth-seeded Frances Tiafoe in straight sets. A spot in the quarter-final against either fourth-seeded Alex de Minaur or Diego Schwartzman awaits the winner of this matchup.

Zhang Zhizheng had to come from behind to earn his victory over Hurkacz in the previous round, ultimately clinching the match on a third set tiebreaker. The win was likely even more satisfying given that Hurkacz was the opponent that just eliminated Zhang from the Shanghai Open a week prior. The ATP 57th-ranked Zhang won his first three matches in that event, beating the likes of Gasquet, Etcheverry and Nakashima before eventually losing to the Pole 2-1. His fourth-round finish in Shanghai means that Zhang is now on a solid run of six victories and two defeats including his third-round finish in the US Open. The 27-year-old has a record of 30 wins and 28 defeats in 2023 which includes a 12-12 mark on hard courts.

Aslan Karatsev will be looking to end the year strongly and make it to a final after falling just short on three prior occasions this season. The 30-year-old’s best run of form was in the Madrid Open back in May. He knocked off de Minaur, Daniil Medvedev and his opponent today to make it to the semi-final. He would ultimately be eliminated at that stage to Jan-Lennard Struff 2-1 after winning seven in a row including qualifiers. More recently, the Russian made the semi-final of the Zhuhai Open in September although fell to Nishioka in the final four. Karatsev has amassed a record of 29 victories and 20 defeats in 2023. He’s on a run of six wins and three defeats over his last nine on hard court surfaces.