TennisSection previews the 2021 Wimbledon Championships as Roberto Bautista Agut (8) meets Denis Shapovalov (10) in the Round of 16 on Monday July 5th, 2021.
A huge battle is expected between Roberto Bautista Agut and Denis Shapovalov as they lock horns for a spot in the Quarter-Finals. Both men have played extremely well so far here at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships, and are extremely close in the ATP Tour rankings. The Spaniard is aiming to repeat his run to the Semi-Finals at the last edition, while Shapovalov is seeking to reach his second Grand Slam Quarter-Final. Who will win this keenly contested match and advance?
Roberto Bautista Agut is the eighth seed here at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships and is currently ranked #10 on the ATP Tour. The Spaniard has built a reputation of being one of the hardest workers on the tour, and is a very consistent performer. While he considers grass his least favorite surface, the Spaniard does have one title on grass and his attitude and powerful flat groundstrokes make him a strong opponent regardless of the surface. RBA also reached the Semis the last time this event was held back in 2019 and will be confident on these familiar courts. He has had a tough time so far at Wimbledon, with long wins over John Millman and Miomir Kevmanovic before a routing win over Dominik Koepfer. With RBA you know what you are going to get, which is a very consistent and powerful baseline game with relentless aggression. He is the slight favorite over Denis Shapovalov here but we are in for a thriller.
Denis Shapovalov is currently ranked #12 on the ATP Tour and is the tenth seed here at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships. The Canadian star has really come of age over the past few seasons, breaking into the top 10 for the first time last year. While there were questions raised about his ability to adapt to grass, he has been in decent form here so far, overcoming a tough five setter against Philipp Kohlschreiber in the First Round, a walkover in the second and then produced a stunning win over former champion Andy Murray to reach this stage. While Murray is not the player he once was, it was Shapovalov’s ability to cope with the pressure of playing on Center Court and the fierce crowd support for his opponent. He is considered the slight underdog here but his raw power and talent make him a serious threat here.
Very surprisingly, this will be their first meeting on the ATP Tour, a strange statistic given that they have been around the top of the rankings for quite some time. It is perhaps fitting that they are meeting on a surface that neither is totally comfortable on, so it will be a true test of their abilities. I am expecting a thriller of a match here, with swings either way. Both men are fully capable of winning, but I am going with experience over youth here, and picking Roberto Bautista Agut to win. The Spaniard is a very difficult opponent to cope with, as he is relentless and very rarely gives free points away. Denis Shapovalov is very talented but can be erratic, leading to his downfall. RBA will win a tight match here at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships, advancing to the Quarters yet again.
Free Tennis Pick and Prediction: Roberto Bautista Agut to win
Want more Free Tennis Picks from our Experts? Check out our latest Tennis Predictions now!
Join TopCourt now to learn from some of the best tennis players in the world! Find out exclusive 14-day FREE-trial here!
