Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Dubai match.
Daniil Medvedev withdrew from the Doha tournament due to food poisoning, but he now has a chance to redeem himself in Dubai, a place where he’s previously won a title. In this match, Medvedev will face Jan-Lennard Struff, whom he has defeated nine times. Struff lost to Medvedev two weeks ago, and another heavy defeat seems likely.
Daniil Medvedev
Medvedev has faced Struff 11 times, winning 9 of those encounters. In Marseille two weeks ago, Daniil beat the German in straight sets (6:3, 6:2), not dropping a single serve. Medvedev’s first serve win percentage was 76%, compared to Struff’s 57%. In Doha, the Russian hit his first serve 70% of the time and made only four double faults in three matches. Had it not been for his illness, Daniil would have fought for the title in Qatar, but Dubai has been a successful place for him. Last year, Medvedev reached the semifinals, and in 2023, he won the title.
Jan-Lennard Struff
Struff is ranked 44th in the world. The German is on a 13-match losing streak against top-10 players, and this season has been difficult for him. Struff reached the Round of 16 in Auckland and Marseille (after his third match), but lost in the first round in Rotterdam and Doha. His first serve percentage has been averaging only 60%, and he’s committed 20 double faults in 7 matches this year.
Daniil Medvedev vs Jan-Lennard Struff Prediction
We believe that Medvedev is unlikely to face much resistance from Struff, who struggles against top-tier opponents. The Russian was serving powerfully in Doha and should once again easily control the game with his first serve. Therefore, we predict a straight-set win for Medvedev, 2:0.
