Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Rotterdam match.
Andrey Rublev has worked on his mental game, but his results have yet to follow suit. He faces the risk of dropping out of the top 10 after Rotterdam, though he only has a quarter-final to defend. His first-round opponent won’t be an easy challenge.
Andrey Rublev
The Russian finished his first-round match at the Australian Open with a smile and an intact racket, but his straight-sets defeat to world No. 112 João Fonseca must have bruised his ego. Yes, the 18-year-old Brazilian is a prodigy, but this was Rublev’s fifth consecutive loss, a streak that carried over from last season. Since August, he has failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals of any tournament. Even Rublev himself acknowledges that his current level is below the standard expected of a top-10 player.
Zhang Zhizhen
The Chinese player is a year older than Rublev and currently sits just inside the top 50. He has never climbed higher than world No. 31, and at 28, a major breakthrough seems unlikely. The two have met three times, all on hard courts, with their first encounter taking place indoors. Zhang has only managed to take one set off Rublev, and even that came via a tiebreak. Their most recent match was in Cincinnati 2024, just as Rublev’s quarter-final struggles began.
Andrey Rublev v Zhang Zhizhen Prediction
Despite his poor form, Rublev should still get past Zhang. However, given his struggles, this match is likely to be a lengthy battle rather than a dominant win.
