Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the United Cup match.
For Stefanos Tsitsipas, the upcoming match is a chance to rebound from a challenging last season and start 2025 with a confident win. Meanwhile, Pablo Carreno Busta has shown decent form at the start of the tournament and will aim to break his losing streak against the Greek player.
Stefanos Tsitsipas
Last season (47 wins, 22 losses) was mixed for Tsitsipas. He excelled on clay, winning the Monte Carlo Masters, but his hard-court performance was less stellar (13-11). The Greek player faced issues with his game, with a weak backhand and insufficient forehand sharpness often leading to defeats. However, Tsitsipas traditionally performs well in Australia, having won 10 of 13 matches on hard courts since 2023.
Pablo Carreno Busta
The Spaniard finished last season ranked 196th due to injuries, but his hard-court outings (7-6) offer hope for a successful comeback. In his first tournament match, Carreno Busta easily dispatched Alexander Shevchenko (6:2, 6:1), showcasing confident serving (68% first serve success, 78% points won on first serve). Historically, Pablo favours hard courts, as evidenced by his victory at the Montreal Masters in 2022.
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Pablo Carreno Busta Prediction
Stefanos Tsitsipas is just returning to match play after a one-and-a-half-month break, while Carreno Busta has already shown his form. Tsitsipas has won all three official meetings against Carreno Busta, including their only hard-court encounter in 2020 (7:6, 6:1). However, the current form of the Spaniard and his strong start in the tournament should make the upcoming match more competitive. Therefore, we're taking a bet on total over, expecting a hard-fought battle.
