ATP Belgrade Open 2021: Men’s Singles Draw Preview, Analysis and Predictions

ATP Belgrade Open 2021: Men’s Singles Draw Preview, Analysis and Predictions

Nikoloz Basilashvili, Novak Djokovic and Gael Monfils

The second ATP 250 event of the season in Belgrade is set to begin from May 23 and will yet again feature home hero Novak Djokovic as the top seed.

Tournament Details:

  • Tournament: Belgrade Open 2021
  • Date: May 23-29, 2021
  • Number of Entrants: 28 (Singles), 16 (Doubles)
  • Venue: Belgrade, Serbia
  • Surface: Clay Court
  • Prize Money: €480,000
  • Defending champion: Matteo Berrettini

Top Seeds at the Belgrade Open 2021

  • Novak Djokovic
  • Gael Monfils
  • Nikoloz Basilashvili
  • Adrian Mannarino
  • Dusan Lajovic

Men’s Singles Draw Analysis and Prediction

Top Half

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic

The top half of the draw is headlined by local favorite and World No.1 Novak Djokovic who has been handed a first round bye alongwith third seed Nikoloz Basilashvili. Djokovic will either face a qualifier or Egor Gerasimov in the Round of 16 and could possibly face seventh seed Miomir Kecmanovic in the quarter-final.

Serb Kecmanovic will face in form Pablo Cuevas, who is coming off a semi-final run in Geneva. Another semi-finalist from Geneva, Pablo Andujar is also in the top quarter and will face Marko Topo in the opening round.

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As for Basilashvili, he will most probably face Laslo Djere in the Round of 16 and has been drawn alongside Dusan Lajovic- a potential quarter-final opponent. Other players to look out for in the quarter are Tennys Sandgren and Jeremy Chardy.

Semi-Final prediction: Novak Djokovic vs Nikoloz Basilashvili

Bottom Half

Gael Monfils
Gael Monfils

The second half of the draw also possess some serious clay-courters as well as some in form players. Frenchman Gael Monfils will be the frontrunner in terms of rankings and hence gets a first round bye alongwith 4th seed Adrian Mannarino.

Monfils will face a qualifier or in form Arthur Rinderknech in the Round of 16. He could possibly face eighth seed Federico Delbonis, who reached the quarter-finals in Rome, in the Last 8. Delbonis will take on a qualifier in the opening round and could face either Radu Albot or Thiago Monteiro in the Round of 16.

In the third quarter of the draw, Adrian Mannarino will face veteran Fernando Verdasco or Lucas Pouille in the second round. Meanwhile, 6th seed Filip Krajinovic will take on fellow Serb Hamad Medjedovic in the first round.

Semi-Final prediction: Filip Krajinovic vs Federico Delbonis

Semi-Finals

Nikoloz Basilashvili
Nikoloz Basilashvili

Novak Djokovic will have an edge in the first semi-final against Nikoloz Basilashvili. The Serb hasn’t won a title on Clay this season and would like to have one going into the French Open.

In the semi-final, Filip Krajinovic will face Federico Delbonis of Argentina. Although Krajinovic will have a huge support from the local fans, Delbonis is carrying momentum and would be the favorite to win.

Final: Novak Djokovic vs Federico Delbonis

Belgrade Open 2021: Final

Novak Djokovic will be the favourite in the upcoming Novak Djokovic vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina clash at the Rome Masters 2021
Novak Djokovic

It is a no brainer that Novak Djokovic is the overwhelming favorite to win the tournament in Belgrade. Although Delbonis will be in great form, the sheer class of Djokovic may prove to much for him. The World No.1 is expected to win and carry momentum going into the French Open.

Champion: Novak Djokovic

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Also read: ATP Parma 2021: Men’s Singles Draw Preview, Analysis and Predictions for Emilia-Romagna Open