Alexander Bublik will get right back in action after finishing runner-up in Singapore and he has a tough first-round test in Rotterdam on his hands against Alexander Zverev. Meanwhile, the second round begins with Alex de Minaur vs. Kei Nishikori.
(3) Alexander Zverev vs. Alexander Bublik
Zverev and Bublik will be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers when they clash in round one of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament on Wednesday. Bublik is coming off a final appearance in Singapore, where an impressive week ended with the 43rd-ranked Kazakh falling to 0-4 lifetime in ATP finals (lost to Alexei Popyrin). That was already Bublik’s second title match of the season, having previously finished runner-up in Antalya.
Simply getting out of the first round in Rotterdam would be a big accomplishment for Bublik. After all, Zverev is the No. 7 player in the world and he is coming off a quarterfinal performance at the Australian Open (lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic). Given how well Zverev played indoors last fall (won back-to-back titles in Cologne), there should be confidence that he can turn in a good result at the ABN AMRO. The fact that Bublik may be physically and mentally fatigued won’t help the underdog.
Pick: Zverev in 2
Alex de Minaur vs. Kei Nishikori
De Minaur made headlines in his Rotterdam opener with an absolutely unbelievable point–and specifically finishing shot–against John Millman. The 23-ranked Aussie beat his compatriot 6-1, 6-4 for what was already his eighth win of the 2021 campaign. That includes a title in Antalya (defeated Bublik via first-set retirement).
The current story is different one for Nishikori, whose form has been lackluster in part due to recurring injuries. Ranked 45th in the world, the Japanese veteran had been 0-3 this year before beating Felix Auger-Aliassime–who was struggling with an injury of his own–on Monday. De Minaur dominated their only previous encounter at the 2019 U.S. Open and more of the same is likely to transpire in Rotterdam.
Pick: De Minaur in 2
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Zv in 3; Demon in 2.