Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP 500 match.
The encounter between the top-seeded Andrey Rublev in the Basel tournament and Alejandro Tabilo promises to be one of the early highlights of the second round. The Russian eased past his opponent, while the Chilean provided fans with a real thriller. Will we see the first or second scenario unfold between these two?
Andrey Rublev
The Russian showed a slight lapse in concentration in the first set against Nuno Borges (6:3, 6:2) in the opening round. He led 3:1 but allowed the Portuguese a break. However, from 3:3, Rublev reclaimed control and clinched seven games in a row, leading 4:0 in the second set. Rublev displayed superior play in medium and long exchanges, winning 40% of the points.
Alejandro Tabilo
The Chilean demonstrated tenacity in his first-round matchup against Marin Čilić. The Croatian led 5:2 in the first set and 5:3 in the second but couldn't hold off Tabilo’s charge. Tabilo pushed both sets to tiebreakers and could have wrapped up the second set 7:5. Come the tiebreakers, the South American faced no issues: 7:4 and 7:2. Rublev needs to be extremely cautious against this stubborn competitor fighting for a quarterfinal spot.
Andrey Rublev vs Alejandro Tabilo Prediction
In the upcoming match, the Russian will need to draw the Chilean into lengthy exchanges. Tabilo's success against Marin Čilić came from quick rallies (70%). This is the only aspect to rely on, given that the players have never met before. It’s clear that Tabilo won’t surrender easily, and we are in for a long match.
