Chennai R1 previews and picks: Devvarman vs. Rublev, Pospisil vs. Bedene

India’s own Somdev Devvarman will be in action on Tuesday in Chennai, where he is set for a first-round meeting with up-and-coming Russian Andrey Rublev. Vasek Pospisil and Aljaz Bedene are also beginning their 2016 campaigns.

(WC) Andrey Rublev vs. (WC) Somdev Devvarman

Devvarman and Rublev are separated by just eight spots in the rankings as they head into the 2016 season, which will start with a first-ever head-to-head meeting at the Aircel Chennai Open on Tuesday. Twelve year’s Devvarman’s junior at 18, Rublev is already up to No. 185 in the world thanks to a breakout 2015 campaign. The Russian won eight ATP-level matches, reached the second round in Delray Beach, Miami, Barcelona, Istanbul, Geneva, and Valencia, and he qualified for the U.S. Open.

At a much different point in his career, Devvarman is struggling down at No. 177. The former college star from the University of Virginia has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons after once peaking at 62nd in the world. He spent almost all of his time on the Challenger circuit and did not record a single win in the main draw of an ATP tournament. Devvarman will have the Indian crowd behind him in this one, but his counter-punching style will not provide enough resistance against Rublev’s firepower.

Pick: Rublev in 2

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(7) Vasek Pospisil vs. Aljaz Bedene

Pospisil and Bedene will be squaring off for the first time in their careers on Tuesday in Chennai. The head-to-head series stands at 1-1 following a split of two previous hard-court encounters. Bedene got the job done 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-3 at the Miami Masters in 2014 before Pospisil prevailed 6-3, 6-4 last fall in Valencia.

Bedene’s only ATP final came last season in Chennai, where he upset Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and Roberto Bautista Agut before falling to Stan Wawrinka. Ranked six spots ahead of the Brit at 39th in the world, Pospisil struggled early last year but picked up the pace in both singles and doubles at Wimbledon (he reached the quarterfinals in singles at the All-England Club after winning three five-setters). The Canadian has not lost a first-round match since the U.S. Open, a streak of five consecutive tournaments.

Pick: Pospisil in 3

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