Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Australian Open match.
Roberto Bautista Agut and Denis Shapovalov are both experiencing a shaky start to the season. The Spaniard ended 2024 with mixed outcomes, despite clinching a title in Antwerp. This year began with a defeat to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, sparking concerns. Meanwhile, Denis Shapovalov managed a victory over Kei Nishikori in Hong Kong and won only one match in Adelaide.
Roberto Bautista Agut
Last year was inconsistent for Bautista Agut, with successful tournaments often followed by early eliminations. His triumph at the ATP 250 in Antwerp was the highlight, yet overall stability was lacking. He finished the season with a losing record on hard courts (11-13). His main strengths lie in his defensive play and the ability to tire opponents with long rallies. However, he has always struggled against offensive players, losing 13 of his last 24 hard-court matches against top-100 opponents.
Denis Shapovalov
The Canadian appears to be nearing his usual form. Late in 2024, he captured the title in Belgrade, marking his first success following a lengthy slump. Shapovalov consistently performs well on hard courts (137 wins in 229 matches), armed with a powerful serve and aggressive strokes from both wings. Moreover, he leads their head-to-head 3-0 against Bautista Agut, having defeated him on various surfaces without dropping a set.
Roberto Bautista Agut vs Denis Shapovalov Prediction
Bautista Agut has not impressed at the start of the season and is far from peak physical condition. Shapovalov remains somewhat inconsistent but has enjoyed more success recently. Their head-to-head record clearly favours the Canadian, making him the favourite. Therefore, we are backing a win for Shapovalov with a handicap (-1.5).
