Matteo Berrettini will be back in action on Wednesday in Doha after knocking out Novak Djokovic in the Doha first round. Berrettini is going up against Tallon Griekspoor, while Andrey Rublev faces Nuno Borges.
Matteo Berrettini vs. Tallon Griekspoor
Berrettini will be trying to build on one of the biggest wins of his career when he battles Griekspoor on Wednesday for a place in the quarterfinals of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. Previously 0-4 lifetime against Novak Djokovic, the 35th-ranked Italian upset the 24-time Grand Slam champion 7-6(4), 6-2 on Tuesday evening. It was a result that came somewhat out of nowhere for Berrettini, who had been just 1-3 this season and had not defeated anyone ranked better than 52nd since Vienna this past October.
Griekspoor is no easy out, as Berrettini found out the hard way only a couple of weeks ago on the indoor hard courts of Rotterdam–where the Dutchman won their first-ever meeting 6-3, 6-7(2), 7-6(4). Griekspoor’s 7-6(5), 7-6(7) victory over Jan-Lennard Struff set up this rematch. With the world No. 51 in fine form, it may be tough for Berrettini to replicate his performance against Djokovic.
Pick: Griekspoor in 3
(5) Andrey Rublev vs. Nuno Borges
Rublev and Borges will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers. Their only previous encounter came last fall on the indoor hard courts of Basel, where Rublev rolled 6-3, 6-2. As that result suggests, this is not a favorable matchup for Borges. The way to beat Rublev is to put him on defense and pummel his second serve, but Borges does not possess the firepower with which to implement those tactics.
That being said, Borges is playing well right now. The world No. 39 from Portugal is 9-5 this season with a semifinal showing in Auckland and a 7-6(6), 6-3 defeat of lucky loser Otto Virtanen on Tuesday in Doha. Rublev is showing signs of ending his slump, as he reached the Rotterdam quarterfinals (lost to Hubert Hurkacz in a competitive three-setter) and took care of Alexander Bublik 6-3, 6-4 in his Doha opener. This should be a lot closer than their Basel contest, but the edge once again goes to the Russian.
Pick: Rublev in 2
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