Albert
·
1d
My Prediction
Safiullin in 3 setsWelcome to the latest installment in the gripping saga of tennis, where we’ll delve into the BNP Paribas Open's round of 64 matchup. Buckle up, sports enthusiasts, as our gladiators are Roman Safiullin and Lorenzo Musetti.
Musetti, ranked 15 in the tournament, has been experiencing a bit of “tennis whiplash,” as it were, alternating between dominant victories and befuddling losses. When he's at peak performance, like against Moutet and Shapovalov, it's an Italian opera of beautifully played shots. However, the inconsistent displays he's showing might give you more pause than a rabbit in headlights.
Safiullin, on the other hand, although unseeded, offers quite a spectacle. His recent performances have been as solid as a day-old baguette, delivering both bread and butter with victories against Opelka and Virtanen. Toss in the fact that he handed Musetti a crushing defeat in their last 2023 match, I'd say that stings more than stepping on a Lego, in a tennis kind of way, of course.
Both players have traded blows in the past, like two heavyweight boxers, making their history tighter than a miser’s wallet. However, considering recent forms, Safiullin's the man who has broken serve more times, and his ivory tower doesn't look to be crumbling anytime soon.
Plus, always remember: on the tennis court, love might be a zero, but Safiullin won't be getting any love from Musetti in this one.
Albert’s Prediction: Safiullin in 3 sets