San Diego Open 2021: Men’s Singles Draw Preview and Prediction

San Diego Open 2021: Men’s Singles Draw Preview and Prediction

Andrey Rublev, Casper Ruud and Andy Murray

The inaugural edition of the San Diego Open will commence from September 27 and will feature the best players from all around the globe. Andrey Rublev will go in as the top seed while Casper Ruud enters the tournament as the second seed.

Tournament Details:

  • Tournament: San Diego Open 2021
  • Date: September 27 – October 3, 2021
  • Number of Entrants: 28 (Singles), 16 (Doubles)
  • Venue: San Diego, CA, U.S.A.
  • Surface: Hard Court
  • Prize Money: $600,000
  • Defending champion: –

Top Seeds at the San Diego Open 2021

  • Andrey Rublev
  • Casper Ruud
  • Felix Auger Aliassime
  • Denis Shapovalov
  • Hubert Hurkacz

Men’s Singles Draw Preview and Prediction

Top Half

Andrey Rublev
Andrey Rublev

World No.5 Andrey Rublev will headline the top half of the draw and receives a first round bye. He will either face Italian Fabio Fognini or Brandon Nakashima in the Round of 16 and has been draw against 6th seed Diego Schwartzman who opens against a qualifier. The Argentine will face either a qualifier or Lloyd Harris in the second round. Rublev and Schwartzman could have a Laver Cup rematch in the quarterfinals.

After receiving a first round bye, Denis Shapovalov will take on either a qualifier or Taylor Fritz in the second round. He has been handed a fairly easy draw and could face eighth seed Daniel Evans in the quarterfinal who faces in form Soonwoo Kwon in the opening round. If Evans wins, he is expected to face fellow Brit Cameron Norrie in the Round of 16 who takes on Dominik Koepfer in the opener.

FS Video

1st semifinal prediction: Andrey Rublev vs Denis Shapovalov

Bottom Half

Casper Ruud
Casper Ruud

The star-studded bottom half of the draw will be headlined by Casper Ruud who receives a first round bye. In a blockbuster opening round match, wildcards Andy Murray and Kei Nishikori will lock horns, with the winner facing Ruud in the Round of 16. Sebastian Korda takes on Tommy Paul in an All-American opener while 9th seed Lorenzo Sonego opens against Nikoloz Basilashvili. Either of Murray, Nishikori or Ruud could face Sonego in the quarterfinal.

Third seed Felix Auger Aliassime gets a first round bye and would face either of Grigor Dimitrov or Marton Fucsovics in the Round of 16. Meanwhile, 5th seed Hubert Hurkacz opens against a qualifier and could face Aslan Karatsev in a mouth watering second round clash. Auger Aliassime and Hurkacz could battle in the last 8.

2nd semifinal prediction: Hubert Hurkacz vs Casper Ruud

Semifinal

Denis Shapovalov
Denis Shapovalov

Andrey Rublev will face Denis Shapovalov in the first semifinal. Both the players have had a good season and would want to make it to another final of the season. Rublev will have a slight edge and could topple the Canadian in San Diego.

In the second semifinal, Miami Open champion Hubert Hurkacz will lock horns against Casper Ruud. Both the players have risen through the ranks this season and will fancy their chances to bag another title. Hurkacz may just prevail in the final with a straight sets win, given his dominant serve.

San Diego Open Final: Andrey Rublev vs Hubert Hurkacz

Final

Hubert Hurkacz
Hubert Hurkacz

The San Diego Open final will be played between top seed Andrey Rublev and fifth seed Hubert Hurkacz. Both the players have exceptional hard court game and will push each other to the very limit. Rublev will have a certain edge and will go in as the favorite but the Pole is likely to upset him this time round and win the inaugural San Diego Open.

Champion: Hubert Hurkacz

Also read: ‘Roger Federer obviously is a total class act, he spearheaded the Laver Cup’: John McEnroe