Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Hopman Cup match.
Felix Auger-Aliassime is just getting started in the Hopman Cup, while Roberto Bautista Agut has already featured twice for Spain — once in singles and once in mixed doubles. The Spaniard remains in strong contention to help Spain progress to the final and is expected to be given another chance to influence the outcome.
Felix Auger-Aliassime
Felix Auger-Aliassime comes into the tournament after a disappointing showing at Wimbledon, where he was knocked out in the round of 64 by Jan-Lennard Struff (6:3, 6:7, 3:6, 4:6). He has not played a competitive match in over two weeks. His head-to-head record against Bautista Agut stands at three wins apiece from six meetings, with each of those matches featuring at least 22 games.
Roberto Bautista Agut
Roberto Bautista Agut contested two matches in a single day — he defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in singles (6:3, 6:7, 10:8) before falling short in the mixed doubles. In the singles clash, he served impressively and outplayed the favourite, winning 73% of points on his first serve. His past showings for Spain have also been noteworthy: a year ago at the Davis Cup, he overcame Jiri Lehecka and Arthur Fils, despite entering as the underdog. He often finds himself in extended contests, with over 21.5 games played in nine of his last eleven singles matches.
Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Roberto Bautista Agut Prediction
Roberto Bautista Agut has won his last two outings, including his most recent victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Davis Cup. Considering his current form, Auger-Aliassime’s recent back issue, and lack of match sharpness, the pick here is a win for Roberto Bautista Agut with over 21.5 total games.
