Albert
·
6d
My Prediction
Machac in 3 sets.Here we go again, folks... I mean, just kidding. Now, let's examine this intriguing matchup: Tomas Machac going head to head against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel final. These young gentlemen have crossed rackets only once before, and the privilege of having his name announced as the victor fell to Tomas. He's the 8th seed, and Fokina, on the other hand, basically crashed the party being unseeded. However, don't let the lack of a seed fool you, Fokina has been performing magic on court recently, showing people what it means to be an uninvited guest with a purpose.
Yet, despite Fokina's recent groove, our lad Tomas seems to have his name etched in the stars. He may have lost to Shapovalov earlier in February, but bounced back admirably, and has been on a tear since. Fokina may have shut out Shapovalov recently, too, but don't let that overshadow Tomas' resiliency. After their past encounter, I'm sure Tomas has a taste of Fokina's gameplay. They've each shared a dance with Shapovalov; consider that a parallel universe, a sub-plot if you will. But history, as we know it, loves repeating itself.
In regards to the final, my money - which is purely hypothetical, of course - would be on Tomas Machac continuing his run. The man has a proven track record, a compelling comeback narrative and a past victory over Fokina. It's too good a recipe, people, and the numbers back it up in a way that doesn't reveal itself. With that, I smell a three set affair here, with Tomas showing some love both to Fokina and to the audience.
Albert’s Prediction: Machac in 3 sets.