Winston-Salem Open 2021: Men’s Singles Draw Preview, Analysis and Prediction


Winston-Salem Open 2021: Men’s Singles Draw Preview, Analysis and Prediction

Pablo Carreno-Busta, Andy Murray, Nikoloz Basilashvili

The Winston-Salem Open 2021 will be the final tournament before the final Grand Slam of the season, the 2021 US Open, begins in New York. It will be the ATP-250 level and will be the last opportunity for the players to hone their skills on Hardcourts before proceeding to New York for the Grand Slam.

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Tournament Details:

  • TournamentWinston-Salem Open 2021
  • Date: August 22 – 28, 2021
  • Number of Entrants: 48 (Singles), 16 (Doubles)
  • Venue: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
  • Surface: Hard Court
  • Prize Money: $717,955
  • Defending champion: Hubert Hurkacz

Top Seeds at the Winston-Salem Open

  • Pablo Carreno Busta
  • David Goffin
  • Daniel Evans
  • Marton Fucsovics
  • Alexander Bublik
  • Marin Cilic
  • Nikoloz Basilashvili
  • John Millman

Men’s Singles Draw Analysis and Prediction

Top Half

Marin Cilic
Marin Cilic

The 1st quarter consists of top-seeded Pablo Carreno Busta, 6th seeded Marin Cilic, 9th seeded Jan-Lennard Struff and 16th seeded Dominik Koepfer all getting a bye in the first round. Pablo can expect Soonwoo Kwon in the 2nd round whereas Cilic is most likely to face Ilya Ivashka. Struff should expect Gianluca Mager while Marco Cecchinato looks certain to meet Koepfer in the 2nd round.

In the 2nd quarter, 3rd seeded Daniel Evans, 5th seeded Alexander Bublik, 12th seeded Benoit Paire and 14th seeded Richard Gasquet all get a direct qualification in the 2nd round. Evans should expect Spaniard Feliciano Lopez while Gasquet could set up a clash with Norbert Gombos. In an all-French clash, Paire could clash with the winner of Arthur Rinderknech or Simon Giles.

First Semi-Final Prediction: Pablo Carreno Busta vs Benoit Paire

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Bottom Half

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz

7th seeded Nikoloz Basilashvili, 10th seeded Federico Delbonis, 15th seeded Carlos Alcaraz and 4th seeded Marton Fucsovics all get a bye in the first round and are most likely to meet Lorenzo Musetti, Marcos Giron, Steve Johnson and Jaume Munar respectively.

2nd seeded David Goffin, 8th seeded John Millman, 11th seeded Albert Ramos Vinolas and 13th seeded Frances Tiafoe are the seeds in the last quarter of the draw. Goffin could begin his campaign against James Duckworth while Millman could meet Jordan Thompson. Vinolas could meet Stefano Travaglia while Tiafoe will start against the winner of Nick Kyrgios and Andy Murray who will meet in the 1st round.

Second Semi-Final Prediction: Nikoloz Basilashvili vs Frances Tiafoe

Semi-Finals

Nikoloz Basilashvili
Nikoloz Basilashvili

Busta and Paire could renew their rivalry and meet for the 15th time in their career with Paire ahead in the head-to-head by 9-5. Both the players have been in good form since the Hardcourt season resumed but it looks like Busta will be the one advancing to the finals of the tournament since Paire has been highly inconsistent.

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Basilashvili and Tiafoe have met on the tour previously only once and would meet for the first time since 2019. Both the players have been in good form on the Hardcourts and can set up yet another exciting semi-final clash.

Final Prediction: Pablo Carreno Busta vs Nikoloz Basilashvili

Winston-Salem Open Finals:

pablo carreno busta
Pablo Carreno Busta

With Pablo’s Olympic Bronze and good runs recently he looks the favourite to win the title and defeat Nikoloz in the finals in what will be their 2nd tour meeting.

Also Read: ‘I will only come back when I’m completely fit and in perfect shape for tough matches’: Dominic Thiem

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