Astana Open 2022: Daniil Medvedev vs. Albert Ramos-Vinolas Tennis Pick and Prediction

TennisSection previews the 2022 Astana Open as Daniil Medvedev takes on Albert Ramos Vinolas in the first round on Tuesday, October 4th, 2022.

Second seed Daniil Medvedev is eyeing a second ATP title of the season. The Russian baseliner has endured a frustrating year in 2022, but could still put a positive spin to his season if he can end the year with a flourish. He opens up his Astana Open campaign against Spanish clay-court specialist Albert Ramos Vinolas. Is the upset on the cards?

Daniil Medvedev is 37-14 for the season and will finish the year without a Grand Slam title. Medvedev’s best chance to add to his US Open title which he won last season came at the turn of the year when he shockingly lost a two-sets-to-love lead and subsequently the title in the Australian Open final to Rafael Nadal. Simply put, Medvedev has not been the same player since that match, with the Russian on the receiving end of 13 more defeats thereafter. Medvedev has lost his last two matches and more worryingly in Metz this past week to the injury-ravaged Stan Wawrinka.

Albert Ramos Vinolas, for his part, is a measly 4-6 on hard courts in 2022. More strikingly, he is set to make his first outing on an indoor hard court this year at the Astana Open. The Spanish lefty has done sufficient work on clay once more, capturing his fourth career title in February at the Cordoba Open to keep his ranking afloat inside the world’s top 50. He hasn’t beaten a top 10 player this year although he came mighty close to defeat Carlos Alcaraz in the first round of the French Open. Will he shock the World No. 4 Medvedev on Monday?

Daniil Medvedev leads the head-to-head over Albert Ramos Vinolas 1-0. He defeated the Spaniard on his beloved clay courts at his home country at the Barcelona Open in 2019. While Medvedev has been far from convincing of late, he should have enough weaponry to outgun the Spaniard at the Astana Open. Ramos Vinolas hardly plays his best tennis on this surface and Medvedev should wear him down routinely.