Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Dubai match.
Daniel Evans received a wild card for the ATP 500 event in Dubai, but the Brit's form is far from inspiring. Karen Khachanov has endured a stuttering start to the season, failing to defend his title in Doha, but the Russian is the clear favourite in this encounter.
Daniel Evans
Evans was once a regular fixture in the world's top 30, but a slump in 2023 saw him plummet down the rankings and forced to play his trade on the Challenger circuit. He now sits at No. 178 in the ATP rankings. The Brit has struggled on hard courts, losing six of his last eight matches against top-50 opponents. For example, Evans's last match was against Daniel Rincón (No. 231), which he lost in straight sets. It's worth noting that in February, Daniel converted a paltry 32% of his break points, which is extremely low, even against weaker opponents.
Karen Khachanov
The Russian enjoyed a successful year last season, claiming titles in Doha and Almaty, but is yet to hit top gear this year. However, Khachanov has won five of his seven matches against opponents with a one-handed backhand and is renowned for his powerful serve and fast, attacking style of play. Khachanov's most recent outing was against Daniil Medvedev (6:4, 5:7, 3:6), where he served up six aces, committed just one double fault, and generally looked respectable.
Daniel Evans vs Karen Khachanov Prediction
Evans, in his current form, is unlikely to trouble Khachanov. Daniel is even losing to players outside the top 100, therefore the Russian has a golden opportunity to secure a comfortable victory.
