Dubai Tennis Championships 2023 Day 3: Men's Singles Predictions ft. Novak Djokovic vs Tallon Griekspoor, Lorenzo Sonego vs Felix Auger-Aliassime

The third day of main draw action at the 2023 Dubai Tennis Championships on Wednesday (March 1) will feature all eight second-round matches.

On Tuesday, the likes of Felix Auger-Aliassime, Borna Coric, Daniil Medvedev and Novak Djokovic opened their campaign at the ATP 500 event. They beat Maxime Cressy, Daniel Evans, Matteo Arnaldi and Tomas Machac respectively.

Without further ado, here's a look at how the eight second-round matches on the third day of the Dubai Tennis Championships could pan out:

#1 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Andrey Rublev (2022 Dubai winner)

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina will take on second seed Andrey Rublev for a place in the Dubai quarterfinals.

The 29th-ranked Davidovich Fokina is 7-5 on the season, while World No. 6 Rublev is 6-5. The defending champion won their lone meeting at 2020 Roland Garros and should prevail again.

Prediction: Rublev in straight sets

#2 Lorenzo Sonego vs Felix Auger-Aliassime

World No. 67 Lorenzo Sonego will lock horns with fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Dubai second round.

Sonego is 4-6 in 2023, while World No. 9 Auger-Aliassime is 8-4. The Canadian has taken both previous meetings with Sonego without dropping a set and should triumph again on Wednesday.

Prediction: Auger-Aliassime in straight sets

#3 Novak Djokovic vs Tallon Griekspoor

Top seed Novak Djokovic faces World No. 39 Tallon Griekspoor in the second round.

World No. 1 Djokovic is a perfect 13-0 on the year, while Griekspoor is 12-3. The five-time Dubai winner won his lone meeting with Griekspoor at the 2021 US Open and should repeat the trick.

Prediction: Djokovic in straight sets

#4 Daniil Medvedev vs Alexander Bublik

Third seed Daniil Medvedev will take on Alexander Bublik for a place in the last eight.

The third-ranked Medvedev is 15-2 on the year, having won his last 10 matches, while World No. 46 Bublik is 4-9.

The Russian is 4-0 against Bublik and should extend his perfect record.

Prediction: Medvedev in straight sets

#5 Botic van de Zandschulp vs Mikael Ymer

World No. 33 Botic van de Zandschulp takes on the 59th-ranked Mikael Ymer in an all-unseeded second-round matchup.

Zandschulp is 6-4 in 2023, while Ymer is 6-6. Expect the Dutchman to take this first-time matchup.

Prediction: Zandschulp in three sets

#6 Alexander Zverev vs Christopher O'Connell

Seventh seed Alexander Zverev will lock horns with qualifier Christopher O'Connell.

The 16th-ranked Zverev is 4-6 on the season, while World No. 92 O'Connell is 3-4. The German should take this one.

Prediction: Zverev in straight sets

#7 Thanasi Kokkinakis vs Borna Coric

Wildcard Thanasi Kokkinakis will take on eighth seed Borna Coric for a place in the last eight in Dubai.

Both World No. 101 Kokkinakis and 20th-ranked Coric are 6-3 in 2023. Coric has taken the pair's two previous meetings without dropping a set, and the trend should continue.

Prediction: Coric in straight sets

#8 Pavel Kotov vs Hubert Hurkacz

Qualifier Pavel Kotov will take on fifth seed Hubert Hurkacz to complete the quarterfinal lineup.

World No. 138 Kotov is 1-1 for the season, while the 11th-ranked Hurkacz is 11-4. The reigning Marseille champion should take this first-time matchup.

Prediction: Hurkacz in straight sets

About the author

Bhargav is a veteran sports journalist and editor at Sportskeeda, with a rich professional experience of 17 years, working for the likes of Siemens and Bombay Dyeing. An avid football and tennis follower for over three decades, Bhargav uses his vast knowledge and experience, attention to detail, an unbiased yet interesting writing style, and thorough research to craft insightful articles, which have raked in over 20 million reads so far.

Bhargav supports Italy at national level, a team steeped in tradition and history according to him. He still harbors the heartbreak from the Azzurri’s 1994 FIFA World Cup final defeat against Brazil, and protagonist-turned-antagonist from the game, ‘Divine Ponytail’ Roberto Baggio is his all-time favorite player. His favorite manager is Marcelo Lippi, who ended Italy’s 24-year wait for the World Cup trophy, winning it in 2006.

Outside Europe’s top five leagues, he follows the MLS following Lionel Messi’s move in 2023 but favors Cristiano Ronaldo in the G.O.A.T. debate. During his free time, Bhargav enjoys driving off to new places and singing.

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Edited by Aditya Singh