Barcelona Open: Tsitsipas vs Shapovalov Tennis Prediction & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Barcelona Open round of 16 match featuring Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Denis Shapovalov on Thursday, April 20, 2023.

Tsitsipas vs Shapovalov Match Preview and Prediction

Stefanos Tsitsipas will bid to win the Barcelona Open for the first time, but he’s still got to win a few matches starting with a tasty third-round encounter against Canadian power hitter Denis Shapovalov. Who will prevail?

Stefanos Tsitsipas has a bye in the first round but breezed through the round of 16 while in action in the second round. The Greek notched his 17th win of the season with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Argnetina’s Pedro Cachin, his 13th win at the Barcelona Open. He’s been to two finals here, losing each time to Rafael Nadal. Could this be his year?

Denis Shapovalov, meanwhile, saw off Slovakian qualifier Jozef Kovalik in straight sets in the second round of the Barcelona Open. Kovalik shocked home favorite Pedro Martinez in his opener but was no match for the World No. 28 who converted two of his three break points and won 74% first-serve points. Shapovalov cannot be profligate in giving Stefanos Tsitsipas as many chances on his serve as he did to Kovalik, saving a whopping seven break points.

Tsitsipas vs Shapovalov Prediction and Pick

Denis Shapovalov leads Stefanos Tsitsipas 3-1 in their head-to-head. There’s something about Shapovalov’s raw power that makes him an absolute terrier against the Greek. But it is imperative to mention that all three victories by the Canadian came on quicker hard courts. The one time they faced off on clay, Tsitsipas cooled him off. I expect the second seed to throw cold water on the 14th seed at the Barcelona Open, where he’s predominantly been the best-performing player outside Nadal in the past five years.