Hamburg Open 2020: Roberto Bautista Agut vs Andrey Rublev preview, head-to-head & prediction 

By Rupin Kale
Modified Sep 24, 2020 20:17 GMT
Roberto Bautista Agut has been in decent form in Hamburg
Roberto Bautista Agut has been in decent form in Hamburg

Match details

Fixture: Roberto Bautista Agut vs Andrey Rublev

Date: 25 September 2020

Tournament: Hamburg European Open 2020

Round: Quarterfinal

Venue: Hamburg, Germany

Category: ATP Masters 500

Surface: Red clay

Prize money: €1,062,520

Match timing: 11.30 am CEST, 3 pm IST

Live telecast: USA - ESPN / Tennis Channel | India - Sony Six

Roberto Bautista Agut vs Andrey Rublev preview

Roberto Bautista Agut produced a clinical performance in his Hamburg opener, winning 6-4, 6-3 against two-time defending champion Nikoloz Basilashvili. He then had a bit of a scare against Dominik Koepfer in the second round, but the Spaniard dug deep to clinch a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win.

Unlike most of his compatriots, clay is not Bautista Agut's strongest surface. Nevertheless, he has made it to two clay finals in his ATP career so far, winning one of them - at Stuttgart in 2014.

Andrey Rublev, the No. 5 seed in Hamburg, also made a strong start to the tournament; he easily disposed of USA's Tennys Sandgren with a 6-3, 6-3 scoreline.

The Russian faced a stiffer test against Tommy Paul in the Round of 16, where he was stretched to three sets. Rublev won comfortably in the end though, finishing the match 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.

The 22-year-old bowed out of last week's Rome Masters in the second round, which had to be disappointing for him. But Rublev, who made the quarterfinals of the US Open last month, will be pleased to have rediscovered his claycourt form just ahead of Roland Garros.

Roberto Bautista Agut vs Andrey Rublev head-to-head

Bautista Agut and Rublev have met thrice on tour before, with the Spaniard leading the head-to-head 2-1.

They first faced off in the Round of 16 at the Valencia Open in 2015, where Bautista Agut won 6-2, 6-3. The duo then met in the 2018 Shanghai Masters, where the World No. 11 prevailed in straight sets once again.

While he trails the head-to-head 2-1, Andrey Rublev has won his last game against Roberto Bautista Agut
While he trails the head-to-head 2-1, Andrey Rublev has won his last game against Roberto Bautista Agut

Rublev, however, pulled one back in their latest face-off. He went one set down in his encounter against Bautista Agut at the Davis Cup last year, but made a strong comeback to win 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(0).

All matches between the pair have been on hardcourts so far; this will be their first clay fixture against each other.

Roberto Bautista Agut vs Andrey Rublev prediction

Roberto Bautista Agut's excellent movement and strong all-round game will be the keys for him against Andrey Rublev.

The Russian on his part is an excellent baseliner who loves to take the game to the opposition. Both players have powerful and accurate forehands, and the result could depend on who deploys it better.

This promises to be a high-octane clash between the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds at the tournament, and is likely to go all the way.

Prediction: Roberto Bautista Agut to win in three sets.