Antalya R1 previews and predictions: De Minaur vs. Jaziri, Chardy vs. Albot

Alex de Minaur will begin his 2021 season when he faces Malek Jaziri during first-round action in Antalya on Friday. Veterans Jeremy Chardy and Radu Albot are also taking the court.

Malek Jaziri vs. (4) Alex de Minaur

De Minaur and Jaziri will be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers when they clash in round one of the Antalya Open on Friday. This is a rare main-tour appearance for Jaziri, who got into the field because the cutoff was so low (he is ranked 249th in the world). The 36-year-old Tunisian spent almost all of his time in 2020 on the Challenger circuit and he has not won an ATP-level match since May of 2019 (Estoril).

Nothing suggests Jaziri will be able to stay on the court with de Minaur. That’s not to say, however, that the 21-year-old Australian is coming off some kind of awesome 2020 campaign. He compiled a modest 13-10 record but was a more impressive 7-3 in his final 10 matches following the French Open. Carrying over some momentum and now facing an opponent who is probably nearing retirement, de Minaur will almost certainly dominate.

Pick: De Minaur in 2

Jeremy Chardy vs. Radu Albot

This is an interesting clash in styles between an inconsistent big hitter (Chardy) and a defensive counter-puncher (Albot). Chardy leads the head-to-head series 3-0 (2-0 at the ATP level), but they have not faced each other 2017 and now the Frenchman is past his prime at 33 years old. No, he is not old by current tennis standards; his results in recent seasons have simply fallen off the map. Currently ranked 72nd, Chardy has not won a main-tour match since Adelaide last January and he is 1-6 in his last seven matches.

Albot wrapped up his 2020 season in far better form. The 31-year-old Moldovan advanced out of the first round in all of his last five main-draw appearances, including quarterfinal performances in Cologne 1 and Sofia plus a second-round result at the Paris Masters as a qualifier. Albot will likely get too many balls back in play for a struggling opponent like Chardy.

Pick: Albot in 3