ATP Qatar Open 2021 Finals: Roberto Bautista Agut vs Nikoloz Basilashvili- Preview, Head-to-Head and Match Prediction


ATP Qatar Open 2021 Finals: Roberto Bautista Agut vs Nikoloz Basilashvili- Preview, Head-to-Head and Match Prediction

Roberto Bautista Agut and Nikoloz Basilashvili

Roberto Bautista Agut will take on Nikoloz Basilashvili  in the Finals of the Qatar Open 2021. Agut is currently the World no.13 on the ATP rankings and Basilashvili is the World no.42. 

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Match Details

  • Tournament: Qatar Open 2021
  • Date: March 13, 2021
  • Fixture: Roberto Bautista Agut vs Nikoloz Basilashvili
  • Round: Final
  • Venue: Doha, Qatar
  • Surface: Outdoor Hard Court
  • Prize Money: $103,070

Roberto Bautista Agut vs Nikoloz Basilashvili: Preview

Roberto Bautista Agut
Roberto Bautista Agut

Coming into the Qatar Open, Agut was in decent form. He had just reached the Finals of the Montpellier Open where he was runners up to David Goffin. In the Qatar Open he has played some outstanding tennis. The slow Qatar courts have complimented Agut’s game, he was the winner here in 2019, and he has taken full advantage. After overcoming the giant American, almost seven foot tall, Reilly Opelka in the first round, Agut beat another big boy Alexander Bublik in the second round.

In the Quarter Finals he was up against the first seed Dominic Thiem. It was a hard fought contest that lasted the three rounds, but in the end Agut ran out winner 7-6 2-6 6-4. In the Semi Final Agut was up against the defending champion and third seed this year Andrey Rublev. Rublev incidentally had made it to the semifinals having not played a single match but riding on walkovers. In the match Rublev did look a bit rusty as he was beaten convincingly by the now battle hardened Agut, 6-3 6-3.

In the Finals, Agut will face Nikoloz Basilashvili. Basilashvili has not done much on the tour this season. His best result thus far had been reaching the Quarter Finals of the Antalya Open. At the Qatar Open he has played the best tennis of his career. In the first two rounds he took out John Millman and then Malek Jaziri. In the Quarter Finals though came possibly the biggest moment of his career when he stopped Roger Federer on his comeback trail and won the contest 3-6 6-1 7-5. In the Semifinals he beat big hitting American Taylor Fritz 7-6 6-1. 

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Roberto Bautista Agut vs Nikoloz Basilashvili: Head-to-Head

Nikoloz Basilashvili
Nikoloz Basilashvili

The two players have met four times on the tour before and three of those contests have been won by Agut. So, the head to head stands at 3-1  to Agut. Their last contest was in the Hamburg Open 2020 which Agut won, 6-4 6-3.  

Roberto Bautista Agut vs Nikoloz Basilashvili: Prediction

Roberto Bautista Agut
Roberto Bautista Agut

Agut has been in tremendous form in this tournament. He has been aggressive and consistent in his returns, especially attacking the opponent’s serve. Basilashvili is a powerful player, but the x-factor has been his deep runs. Can be a close contest, but Agut has the edge

Match Prediction: Roberto Bautista Agut should win this contest in three sets. 

Also read: Defeated Roger Federer still optimistic, hopes to be 100% fit before Wimbledon

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