TennisSection previews the 2022 Montpellier Open as Nikoloz Basilashvili takes on Damir Dzumhur in the second round on Wednesday, February 2nd, 2022.
Will Nikoloz Basilashvili get his first win of 2022? Or will Damir Dzumhur record the upset? The Georgian could very well be under the cosh here given that this will be his first match in two weeks. Dzumhur has already played a couple of qualifying matches at the Montpellier Open, and won his first-round match on Tuesday.
Nikoloz Basilahvili was beaten in the first round of the 2022 Australian Open by Andy Murray. When the draw of the year’s first Grand Slam was made, it was one of the standout round one match in Melbourne. And while the match duly delivered from a neutral’s point of view, the Georgian ball striker was far from his best and fell in an agonizing five-setter to the former World No. 1. Aside from that early exit, it was an Australian summer to forget for the 29-year-old. His ATP Cup campaign came to a screeching halt after he was forced to retire in his match against Stefanos Tsitsipas due to breathing difficulties. Basilashvili did not win a single match in three tournaments, culminating in the aforementioned exit at the Australian Open. Will he get his first win of the calendar against Damir Dzumhur at the Montpellier Open?
Damir Dzumhur, in contrast, has enjoyed a slightly more productive return in 2022 than Nikoloz Basillahvili. The diminutive Bosnian won his first main draw match of the year with a shock victory over Alex Molcan at the Montpellier Open. Dzumhur even managed to bagel the Slovak, who was one of the most improved players on the ATP tour in the past 12 months. Dzumhur has now tallied three wins at the event without dropping a set, having won a pair of qualifying matches in the past two days.
Nikoloz Basilashvili and Damir Dzumhur have not crossed paths on the tour-level scene before. Basilashvili is a jaw-dropping 0-4 at the start of the year and seemed to struggle health-wise during his stay Down Under. He will be hoping for a change in fortunes now that the environment has completely changed. But if the Gerogian was looking for some sort of respite, this is not it. Dzumhur is yet to drop a set in three matches, and his counter-punching skills should be too much for an out-of-form Basilashvili.
Free Tennis Pick and Prediction: Damir Dzumhur in straight sets.
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