TennisSection previews the 2022 ATP Cup as Diego Schwartzman meets Nikolosz Basilashvili on Friday December 31st, 2021 at 8:20pm EST.
The ATP Cup is one of the most popular events on the ATP Tour calendar and the 2022 edition is sure to be no different. Argentina has been a powerhouse over the past few decades and they are aiming to get off to a strong start against an underdog Georgian side. Diego Schwartzman is the top ranked Argentinian and he will do battle against the number one from Georgia, Nikolosz Basilashvili in what is sure to be a high quality affair. Who will get the win?
Diego Schwartzman has been a very consistent performer on the ATP Tour over the past few years and has really cemented himself near the top of the charts, recently breaking into the top 10 for the first time and finding himself starting the 2022 season in the #13 spot. While he has had quite a lot of success on the hard courts, his lack of size and firepower can sometimes be his downfall on quicker surfaces. However, his elite movement and anticipation allow him to always be competitive, regardless of the competition. He will be hoping for another strong season in 2022, and a deep run at the Australian Open will be the perfect start, with the ATP Cup always great preparation. His opponent Nikolosz Basilashvili is very hot and cold, but under the right circumstances has the firepower to dominate even the world’s best on this surface. Make no mistake, Schwartzman is the favorite here, but will have to be at his absolute best to overcome the Georgian.
Nikolosz Basilashvili is currently ranked #22 on the ATP Tour, and has been the top ranked Georgian and for the past few years. He is known for being very inconsistent, but when he is on a hot streak he can be very difficult to beat due to his immense power on both sides. After a poor start to the 2021 season he rebounded well to win two titles. He will be hoping for a much more consistent campaign in 2022, catapulting him back inside the top 20 of the rankings. Georgia are the big underdogs in this tie, but if their star man can keep his unforced errors to a minimum, he is certainly capable of causing the upset here over Diego Schwartzman. His opponent is one of the most consistent players on Tour with elite defence and movement, so Basilashvili is in for a huge battle here at the 2022 ATP Cup.
It is always hard to predict what will happen in these early season matches, as it is difficult to know what the player’s off-season preparation was like. However, it is certain that ATP Tour veterans Diego Schwartzman and Nikolosz Basilashvili will have put long hours in and are ready and rearing to enter the 2022 ATP Cup. This is set to be a huge battle between two seasoned professionals, and even though Diego Schwartzman has been one of the most solid and consistent players on Tour over the past few years, Nikolosz Basilashvili has been having a resurgence lately and his ultra-aggressive style will be a big handful. I am expecting it to go the distance, but I trust Schwartzman more in the key moments, with his experience and mental fortitude being the difference here. It will be very exciting, but Diego Schwartzman will win here, likely wrapping the tie up for Argentina here at the 2022 ATP Cup.
Free Tennis Pick and Prediction: Diego Schwartzman to win
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