Day 4 at the ATP Gijon Open 250 features four singles matches as the second round of this event is wrapped up. Some big names on tour will take the court on Thursday in Spain including Andrey Rublev and Andy Murray. The aforementioned Rublev takes on Ilya Ivashka in what has the makings of a very entertaining match. We at LWOT have the prediction for that match as well as all other happenings around the grounds of Gijon. But who will advance?
ATP Gijon Day 4 Predictions
Sebastian Korda vs Roberto Bautista Agut
Head-to-Head: Korda 1-0 Bautista Agut
Young American Sebastian Korda and veteran Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut are set to square off for just the second time. Korda bested the Spaniard 6-3 7-6 last season in Halle. Korda comes into this tournament hoping to cap off what has been a fairly productive second full season on tour. A win over Bautista Agut would send Korda into his fifth quarterfinal of the season. Bautista Agut, who received a first-round bye as the #3 overall seed, is looking to capitalize on his current form. Although he did not make it out of the first round at the US Open, Bautista Agut holds a 13-4 record since late July. I expect this to be a very close battle as both players are comfortable on indoor hard courts. I see Korda as the slight favorite because of how well he has been serving of late.
Prediction: Korda in 3
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Andy Murray vs Pedro Cachin
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Andy Murray and Pedro Cachin are set to square off after both cruised through the first round in Gijon with straight-set victories. Although Murray has struggled to string together victories since his return from injury, he has proven he does not lose to players outside the Top 45. Of his 18 losses this season, just three were to players who held such a rank. Cachin, who has found most of his professional success at the Challenger level, is currently ranked #61 in the world. The 27-year-old Argentine has played just eight career professional matches on indoor hard courts. I think Murray will be able to play on the attack as he controls the feel and pace of this match.
Prediction: Murray in 2
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Francisco Cerundolo vs Manuel Guinard
Head-to-Head: first meeting
#4 seed Francisco Cerundolo and qualifier Manuel Guinard will meet in round two in Gijon for the first time. As a top-four seed, this will be Cerundolo’s first match of the week. As a qualifier, Guinard has already played three matches this week. He has spent five hours and 21 minutes on-court. Cerundolo is 0-4 on indoor hard courts compared to the 64-58 mark of the Frenchman. The question becomes, what will win out: familiarity or talent? I actually slightly favor Guinard and his comfort on indoor hard courts. Cerdundolo comes into this tournament on a seven-match losing streak. He has not won on-tour since mid-July. I find it tough to see him regaining his form on a surface he has spent very little time on.
Prediction: Guinard in 3
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Andrey Rublev vs Ilya Ivashka
Head-to-Head: Rublev 2-0 Ivashka
#1 seed Andrey Rublev has a lot to play for over the next three weeks. The Russian is trying to clinch a spot in the Nitto ATP Finals for the third consecutive year, and a title in Gijon could go a long way in deciding that. Rublev, who had a slow start to the summer hard court swing, has won seven of his last nine matches. He is 52-17 on indoor hard courts over the past four seasons. His round two opponent, Ilya Ivashka, is also a fairly strong indoor hardcourt player. The Bulgarian is coming off of a trip to the Sofia quarterfinals and should be feeling relatively confident in his game. With that said, Rublev knows what is on the line for him and should play with extreme confidence this week.
Prediction: Rublev in 2
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