Astana Open: Frances Tiafoe vs Miomir Kecmanovic Preview, Head-to-Head and Prediction for Nur Sultan 2020

Astana Open: Frances Tiafoe vs Miomir Kecmanovic Preview, Head-to-Head and Prediction for Nur Sultan 2020
Frances Tiafoe and Miomir Kecmanovic

Exciting Frances Tiafoe will take on second seed Miomir Kecmanovic in the second round of the first edition of the Astana Open. They have met on the ATP Tour once before.

Match Details

  • Tournament: Astana Open 2020
  • Date: 28 October 2020
  • Match: Frances Tiafoe vs Miomir Kecmanovic
  • Round: 2nd Round (Round of 16)
  • Venue: Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
  • Category: ATP 250
  • Surface: Indoor hardcourt
  • Prize Money: Approx. $273,345

Frances Tiafoe vs Miomir Kecmanovic: Match Preview

Frances Tiafoe

American Frances Tiafoe has been a busy man this year, taking part in as many tournaments as he can. He won one title at Parma, a Challenger event. However, he hasn’t been able to progress much in the other tournaments he took part in.

The World No. 64’s first-round match in Nur-Sultan was against Frenchman Corentin Moutet. A rematch of the first round of the Sardinia Open, Tiafoe comfortably took revenge on Moutet with a convincing 6-3, 6-2 victory.

FS Video

Meanwhile, Serb Miomir Kecmanovic is turning out to be one of the promising fringe players on the ATP Tour. He achieved his career-best ranking of 40 and even won one title this year, the Austrian Open Kitzbuhel. His performance in that tournament was exceptional as he beat players such as Kei Nishikori and Jordan Thompson on the way to the title.

However, the 21-year-old’s recent form has been unsatisfactory, with only two wins out of his last six matches. He had first-round exits at the Rome Masters and French Open, and couldn’t progress beyond the second at St. Petersburg and Cologne.

He received a bye into the second round because of his high seeding.

Frances Tiafoe vs Miomir Kecmanovic: Head-to-Head

Miomir Kecmanovic

Tiafoe and Kecmanovic have played against each other once before on the ATP Tour, at the 2019 Miami Masters. The first-round match was won by Tiafoe in straight sets; both sets went to the tiebreaker.

This will be their second meeting. The head-to-head stands at 1-0 to Frances Tiafoe.

Frances Tiafoe vs Miomir Kecmanovic: Match Prediction

Frances Tiafoe is tipped to win this match

It is evident that Tiafoe’s gameplay is better suited to the indoor hardcourts than Kecmanovic’s style. His aggressive serve and forehand will find a potent use in Nur-Sultan. Moreover, recent form favors the American over the Serb; Tiafoe had a convincing victory against Moutet in the first round, and also defeated Dusan Lajovic in the European Open.

All fingers point towards a Tiafoe victory at the moment. However, second-seeded Kecmanovic could shake up a storm if he were to bring back some of his past form at this tournament.

Match Prediction: Frances Tiafoe to defeat Miomir Kecmanovic in three sets.

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