ATP Kremlin Cup 2021: Men’s Singles Draw Preview and Prediction

ATP Kremlin Cup 2021: Men’s Singles Draw Preview and Prediction

Karen Khachanov, Andrey Rublev and Aslan Karatsev

After missing out last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Kremlin Cup returns on the ATP Tour this season with home favorites Andrey Rublev, Aslan Karatsev and Karen Khachanov leading the players field.

Tournament Details:

  • Tournament: ATP Kremlin Cup 2021
  • Date: October 18- October 24, 2021
  • Number of Entrants: 28 (Singles), 16 (Doubles)
  • Venue: Moscow, Russia
  • Surface: Hard Court
  • Prize Money: $697,125
  • Defending champion: Andrey Rublev

Top Seeds at the Kremlin Cup 2021

  • Andrey Rublev
  • Aslan Karatsev
  • Karen Khachanov
  • Filip Krajinovic
  • Alexander Bublik
  • Marin Cilic
  • Ilya Ivashka
  • Laslo Djere

Men’s Singles Draw Preview and Prediction

Top Half

Andrey Rublev
Andrey Rublev

Defending champion Andrey Rublev will headline the top half of the draw. He receives a first round bye and could face last year’s finalist Adrian Mannarino in the second round. He is drawn opposite of 7th seed Ilya Ivashka who opens against wild card Evgeny Donskoy. Ivashka could face Argentine Federico Coria in the second round.

4th seed Filip Krajinovic will face either Pedro Martinez or Guido Pella in the second round. He is drawn opposite of 6th seed Marin Cilic who faces a qualifier in the first round. Cilic will face the winner of Tommy Paul vs Mikael Ymer in the Round of 16. Krajinovic and Cilic are expected to lock horns in the quarterfinal.

FS Video

First semifinal prediction: Andrey Rublev vs Marin Cilic

Bottom Half

Aslan Karatsev
Aslan Karatsev

Aslan Karatsev will headline the bottom half of the draw and receives a first round bye. He is expected to face Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic who opens against a qualifier. Karatsev is drawn alongside 8th seed Laslo Djere who faces Gilles Simon in the opening round. Mackenzie McDonald and Yoshihito Nishioka are also present in the same quarter. Djere and Karatsev could battle in the last 8.

Third seed Karen Khachanov will face either James Duckworth or a qualifier in the second round after getting a bye in the first round. Meanwhile, 5th seed Alexander Bublik faces a qualifier in the first round and will face the winner of John Millman vs Benjamin Bonzi in the Round of 16.

Second semifinal prediction: Karen Khachanov vs Aslan Karatsev

Semifinals

Karen Khachanov
Karen Khachanov

Top seed Andrey Rublev will face former US Open champion Marin Cilic in the semifinal. Rublev has shown decent form this season and will enter the match as one of the favorites. Cilic will back his serve but Rublev is expected to make the finals once again.

Olympic silver medalist Karen Khachanov will be up against second seeded countryman Aslan Karatsev in the second semifinal. Both of them know each others’ game well and will fancy their chances to make it to the final. Despite ranked lower than Karatsev, Khachanov is expected to reach the final.

Kremlin Cup Final prediction: Andrey Rublev vs Karen Khachanov

Final

Andrey Rublev
Andrey Rublev

In an All-Russian final at the Russian capital, top seed Andrey Rublev will lock horns against third seed Karen Khachanov. Rublev will look to defend his title and will be the favorite to win the match. But Khachanov will leave no stone unturned and will push Rublev to the limit. Expect a thrilling final with Rublev defending the Kremlin Cup title.

Champion: Andrey Rublev

Also read: Tenerife Ladies Open 2021: Women’s Singles Draw Preview and Prediction