TennisSection previews the 2021 Qatar Open as Andrey Rublev (3) meets Richard Gasquet in the second round on Wednesday, March 10 2021.
Will Richard Gasquet be able to cause what would be a shocking upset nowadays in the world of tennis? Will Andrey Rublev extend his lead at the top of the W/L table in 2021, having won 13 matches and only lost 1 this year? Only one player can book their spot in the Quarter-Finals here in Qatar. Who will it be?
Richard Gasquet came through a very easy first set match here in Qatar, beating the Serbian Blaz Rola in straight sets 6-4/6-4. Richard Gasquet seemed to be making his way back to his best level late in 2019, however, he seems to have gone back down in form. Gasquet, who has suffered many injuries throughout his career, just is not able to find his rhythm anymore which saw him become one of the best players in the world and a former top 10 player. However, Gasquet has a lot of experience, and I am sure he is very confident in his ability in causing upsets against big players. Gasquet will know that his next opponent, Andrey Rublev, is just coming off a title in Rotterdam, and has to travel over the Qatar and quickly get on the court to play competitively. Can Gasquet take advantage?
Andrey Rublev is just on another level at the moment. The Russian has just won his fourth consecutive ATP 500 tournament on Sunday in Rotterdam and has won 20-matches in a row at ATP 500 level as well. Rublev is starting 2021 even better than he started 2020. Andrey will now want to continue to play with this form as he enters the Qatar Open in the second round against Richard Gasquet. Rublev is the much better player on paper and he has all the skills to get this match done in straight sets. However, will tiredness play a factor in this match? Rublev travelled to Qatar on Sunday night, and has only got Monday and Tuesday to get himself prepared to these new conditions. Rublev is a man on a mission at the moment, and if anyone cannot let these factors hurt his game, it is him.
These two players have never met before and unfortunately for the very experienced Frenchman, Richard Gasquet, I do not see any other result other than an Andrey Rublev victory. Rublev is just in beast mode at the moment, and he will come into the Qatar Open very determined to continue impressing the tennis world. Richard Gasquet, if in his prime, could have definitely hurt Rublev here, but this is not the case. This match is going to be over in straight sets in my opinion, with Rublev booking himself in the Quarter-Finals.
Free Tennis Preview and Prediction: Andrey Rublev in Straight Sets.
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