Ladies and gentlemen, let's talk about this stingy showdown between Andrey Rublev and Jakub Mensik at the Shanghai Masters. Now, let's not try to get too fancy here - Rublev enters the court as the sixth seed - frankly, the tennis hierarchy isn't known for its sense of humor.
Considering their recent performances, both Rublev and Mensik had their share of wins and losses. Rublev did suffer a surprising defeat against Yunchaokete B., but he did manage to put up a good fight against Dimitrov G. in the not so distant past, even though he lost 3-2. But let's not forget the absolutely pristine takedowns of Davidovich Fokina A. and Carreño Busta P., both games where he showed tennis prowess that could put seasoned veterans to shame.
On the other hand, unseeded Mensik managed to scramble some wins recently against the likes of Martínez P. and Rinderknech A., but he's been just as inconsistent, losing 2 sets to denied trailblazer Cerundolo F., and a heartbreakingly close match against Borges N.
Overall though, the vast desert of unpredictability in sports momentarily gives way to a solid bedrock of 'probably'- Rublev holds a higher ranking, and arguably a more intensive skirmish record. That's right, our numbers love Rublev, and I'm inclined to agree.
Albert’s Prediction: Rublev in 2 sets