Tennis at Tokyo Olympics 2020: Andrey Rublev vs Kei Nishikori Preview, Head to Head and Prediction

Tennis at Tokyo Olympics 2020: Andrey Rublev vs Kei Nishikori Preview, Head to Head and Prediction

Andrey Rublev will be leading a strong Russian contingent and faces a wealth of experience in the first round

Russian world number 7 Andrey Rublev makes his Olympic Debut against Japanese star and home crowd favourite Kei Nishikori in the first round of the Tokyo Olympics on 24th July

TournamentTokyo Olympics
MatchAndrey Rublev vs Kei Nishikori
RoundFirst Round
Date24th July 2021
VenueTokyo, Japan
SurfaceHard Court

Andrey Rublev vs Kei Nishikori Preview

rublev russia
Andrey Rublev will lead a strong Russian charge in Tokyo

Russian Andrey Rublev, who recently claimed that playing for his motherland is a special and different feeling that can not be compared to circuit tennis, comes into the showdown after having had a nightmare French Open and a disappointing Wimbledon. In France, he was shocked in the first round by unseeded German Jan-Lennard Struff in a 5 setter. At Wimbledon, he again lost a 5 setter, this time in the Round of 16 to Hungarian Marton Fucsovics.

His opponent, 31-year-old Kei Nishikori has unforgettable memories at the Games, having won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics after defeating a drained Rafael Nadal in the third place match. The world number 69 comes into the clash having been defeated in the second round at Wimbledon by Aussie Jordan Thompson.

FS Video

Andrey Rublev vs Kei Nishikori Head to Head

Kei Nishikori
Kei Nishikori leads the Head to Head 1-0

Kei Nishikori won the pair’s only meeting back at the 2018 Cincinatti Masters and so he leads the Head to Head 1-0.

Andrey Rublev vs Kei Nishikori Prediction

Andrey Rublev
Andrey Rublev will be looking to bring another medal to Russia’s name and is expected to advance to the second round

The World number 7 would seem the clear favourite in the build-up to the match but hasn’t been able to make a deep run at any Grand Slam so far in his short career and comes up against a wealth of experience in the form of Kei Nishikori, who will be looking to spring a surprise with the help of crowd support.

Prediction: Nishikori to win in 3 sets.

YouTube video

Also Read: “Playing for your country is always so special”: Andrey Rublev