Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the United Cup match.
The clash between Alexander Shevchenko and Carreno Busta is a duel of youth versus experience. For Alexander, this match is a chance to prove his potential after a challenging season, whilst for Pablo, it’s an opportunity to show he remains competitive after injuries.
Alexander Shevchenko
Last season proved difficult for Shevchenko, with a hard court record of 8-13. On Australian courts over the past two seasons, Alexander has lost five of seven matches, struggling to adapt to the fast surfaces early in the season. Notable defeats include lacklustre performances against older players such as Richard Gasquet (4:6, 4:6) and Mikhail Kukushkin (4:6, 6:7). His weakness against veteran opponents is underscored by statistics: in 2024, he lost six of ten hard court matches against players over 30.
Pablo Carreno Busta
The Spaniard returned to the court in 2024 after a long absence and has performed reasonably well on hard surfaces (7-6). His achievements include victories over Sebastian Korda (7:5, 6:1) and Aleksandar Vukic (6:3, 4:6, 6:3), along with respectable matches against Alexander Zverev (5:7, 6:7) and Andrey Rublev (0:6, 6:4, 4:6). Carreno Busta has shown he can challenge even strong opponents, employing an aggressive style to counterbalance a decline in physical prowess. Impressively, as a favourite, he has won five of eight hard court matches in 2024. Furthermore, in August, the seasoned Spaniard convincingly defeated Alexander Shevchenko on a hard surface (6:2, 6:2).
Alexander Shevchenko vs Pablo Carreno Busta Prediction
Shevchenko’s poor results on hard courts and his struggles against older players work in Carreno Busta’s favour. Despite his age, Pablo maintains a high level, enabling him to triumph over top-100 opponents. His experience in major tournaments and positive form on hard surfaces give him the edge. Therefore, we are backing a win for Carreno Busta.
