Rotterdam R2 previews and predictions: Rublev vs. Bublik, Goffin vs. Sinner

Fellow seeds Andrey Rublev and David Goffin will aim for quarterfinal spots in Rotterdam on Thursday. They have respective second-round showdowns on their hands against Alexander Bublik and Jannik Sinner.

Alexander Bublik vs. (7) Andrey Rublev

Rublev and Bublik will be going head-to-head for the third time at the ATP level and for the third time in less than four months when they meet again in round two of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament on Thursday. Both of their previous meetings have gone Rublev’s way; 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 last October in Moscow and then one week later via a 6-1, 6-7(3), 7-6(6) decision in Vienna.

The 22-year-old Russian is playing even better now, boasting a 12-1 record in 2020 that has him up to 15th in the world. Following titles in Doha and Adelaide plus a fourth-round performance at the Australian Open, Rublev blasted Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-2, 6-3 on Tuesday in Rotterdam. Bublik outlasted Gregoire Barrere 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-4, improving to 4-4 on the season. The 56th-ranked Kazakh is a dangerous opponent, but this surface probably isn’t fast enough for his liking and he will have to keep his double-faults to a minimum against an opponent of Rublev’s caliber.

Pick: Rublev in 2 with at least one tiebreaker

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(WC) Jannik Sinner vs. (4) David Goffin

You don’t see this every day (in fact, you never see it): Sinner got a walkover in the first round of a tournament. That’s right; nobody who lost in qualifying signed up for a lucky-loser spot on Wednesday. Someone would have gotten in otherwise, because Radu Albot withdrew due to injury. Albot’s absence combined with the gaffe by qualifying losers–which should never happen especially at a prestigious 500-point event–sent Sinner through to the last 16. Of course, the 18-year-old Italian could have used a confidence-boosting match; his 2020 record stands at just 1-3.

Goffin has already won eight matches this year, compared to three losses. The 10th-ranked Belgian picked up three victories at the ATP Cup (including over Rafael Nadal), advanced to round three of the Aussie Open (lost to Rublev), and is coming off a semifinal showing in Montpellier. Goffin was not at his best on Wednesday but managed to scrape past Robin Haase 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4. Rotterdam’s No. 4 seed will likely pick up the pace in his second match and should be too consistent for an opponent who is struggling to recapture his late-2019 form.

Pick: Goffin in 2

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