We take a look at the ATP Tour 500 Series Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships matches between Andrey Rublev and Marton Fucsovics as well as Llyod Harris against Kei Nishikori .
Photo Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
2021 ATP Tour
ATP Tour 500
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
Aviation Club Tennis Centre (Hard Outdoor)
Selected Quarterfinals- 18th March
Andrey Rublev (2) (1/5) vs Marton Fucsovics (7/2)
What more is to say about Rublev? I keep on thinking that there’s no way he can possibly continue to play week-in-week-out. Andrey Rublev’s emphatic victory over Taylor Fritz made it 22 consecutive ATP 500 victories for the Russian. He will have felt deeply disappointed by only making it to the semi-finals in last week’s Qatar Open (that’s where Rublev’s game is it). He is looking to make it five consecutive ATP 500 titles, which should confirm his status as perhaps the best young player inside the world’s top 10. He should feel even more confident this week after Dominic Thiem’s surprise elimination. The Russian’s imperious movement and consistency from the baseline is extraordinary. I would wager a bet that he must have amongst the lowest percentage of unforced errors on the entire tour. Rublev’s next opponent is the all too familiar Marton Fucsovics.
Hungarian Marton Fucsovics is one of the hardest players to pin down on tour. He can go through a period of general malaise and then suddenly come through with a shock performance. The 2018 Geneva Open Champion came into 2021 with little to no expectations. But just two weeks back he had his best ever performance in an ATP 500 event, losing in the Rotterdam Final (more on that later). This week he has defied the odds to come through something of a horror draw. He came from a set down to beat Pablo Carreno Busta before beating Dusan Lajovic. The hard-hitting Hungarian is just one of those consistent workers who can grind opponents down. He is able to absorb his opponents’ power and counterpunch efficiently. He will need to turn up the dial for this encounter: Rublev was the man who beat him in the Rotterdam Final.
This will be the 4th meeting between these two, with Rublev holding a narrow 2-1 advantage. Rublev actually advanced over the Hungarian by walkover during last week’s Doha event. He also beat Fucsovics in the Rotterdam Final. Rublev did show some major cracks against Bautista Agut last week. That- combined with his demonic schedule- makes the chance of a Fucsovics surprise quite enticing. This whole week has been defined by surprises and Fucsovics looks to be playing his best tennis.
Llyod Harris (1/1) vs Kei Nishikori (4/5)
24-year-old South African Llyod Harris is really the talk of the town this week. The lanky Harris has been in mesmerizing form, accounting for the demise of top seed Dominic Thiem. He only dropped eleven points on serve in ten service games. It was his first victory over a player in the world’s top 5. Just last week he won his first match against a player inside the top 20, beating Stan Wawrinka in Qatar. The big-serving South African is almost following the Kevin Anderson mould towards success. He sets up his points with a massive serve (he hit down 13 aces in his last match against Krajinovic). He then has the ability to hit winners on both wings. Sometimes he tends to force the issue a bit much at this stage of tournaments. The 2020 Adelaide runner-up will be hoping to pick up another big scalp in Japanese hero Kei Nishikori.
When one thinks of Kei Nishikori, one is immediately reminded of his Energizer Bunny antics from the baseline. He was able to mix it up with anyone on the tour due to his constant work rate. But that clearly took a toll on the former World Number 4. Since finishing in the year-end top 10 in 2018 for the 4th time, injuries have plagued the Japanese star. Right wrist, shoulder and elbow injuries brought his career to a grinding halt. Under the guidance of Michael Chang and Max Mirnyi, Nishikori is looking to return to the world’s top 10. Signs have been positive this week. He beat the similarly hard-working David Goffin in straight sets before a comfortable straight sets victory over Bedene. He looks to be somewhere near his best again. Nishikori should take solace from the Opelka victory going into this match against the big-serving South African.
This will be the first career meeting between these two. As I noted earlier, that Opelka victory should give Nishikori great confidence going into this one. I’m going for a victory for the Japanese star.
