Vienna R2 previews and predictions: Rublev vs. Sinner, Medvedev vs. Pospisil

Russians Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev will be among those in action as the Vienna second round wraps up on Thursday. Rublev is facing Jannik Sinner, while Medvedev is going up against Vasek Pospisil.

(5) Andrey Rublev vs. (WC) Jannik Sinner

Rublev is rolling right along to a debut appearance in the ATP Finals, currently in line to be the seventh qualifier and without two challengers in realistic contention of overtaking him. The 23-year-old is up to No. 8 in the world thanks to a 35-7 record this season that includes a tour-leading four titles (tied with Novak Djokovic) and quarterfinal finishes at the U.S. Open and French Open.

Seeded fifth at the Erste Bank Open, Rublev routed Norbert Gombos 6-3, 6-2 on Monday and now meets Sinner in the last 16. This marks their first head-to-head matchup, which Sinner played his way into by defeating Casper Ruud 7-6(2), 6-3 on Wednesday. The 19-year-old Italian has climbed to 43rd in the rankings, with 14 of his 25 career ATP-level match victories coming in 2020. However, Sinner wins by blowing people off the court and he won’t be able to do that by any stretch of the imagination against Rublev. The Russian can match the youngster’s power and is also more consistent while playing better defense.

Pick: Rublev in 2

(Q) Vasek Pospisil vs. (4) Daniil Medvedev

Medvedev and Pospisil will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers and for the second time this year when they meet again on Thursday. After Medvedev won 7-6(7), 7-5 last fall in Shanghai, Pospisil pulled off a 6-4, 6-3 upset a few months later on the indoor hard courts of Rotterdam.

It has already been a great week for Pospisil, who qualified for the Vienna main draw and then beat fellow Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-5, 7-5. Medvedev opened with a 6-3, 6-1 beatdown of lucky loser Jason Jung, which is encouraging even though the fourth-seeded Russian was a massive favorite. He needs some momentum right now and will be eager for success at this 500-point tournament to pick up confidence prior to the Paris Masters and year-end championship.

Pick: Medvedev in 2