St. Petersburg Open 2020: Daniil Medvedev vs Richard Gasquet preview, head-to-head, prediction

Match details

Fixture: Daniil Medvedev vs Richard Gasquet

Date: 14 October 2020

Tournament: St. Petersburg Open 2020

Round: First round (Round of 32)

Venue: St. Petersburg, Russia

Category: ATP 500

Surface: Indoor Hard

Prize money: USD $1,243,790

Match timing: Not before 6.30 pm Moscow Standard Time, 9 pm IST

Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | India - Sony Six | Europe - Eurosport

Daniil Medvedev vs Richard Gasquet prediction

Daniil Medvedev lost in the first round of Roland Garros

World No. 5 Daniil Medvedev will be looking to bounce back from his early exit at the French Open when he takes on France's Richard Gasquet at the 2020 St. Petersburg Open on Wednesday.

The Russian didn't play the Italian Open after his North American hardcourt swing campaign, opting to rest instead. Medvedev's only tune-up tournament on clay before starting his campaign in Paris was the Hamburg Open, where the Russian was the No. 1 seed.

However, he was dumped out the tournament in his very first match, losing to France's Ugo Humbert in straight sets.

At the French Open, Medvedev found himself in a tough first-round matchup against the hard-hitting Marton Fucsovics. The Russian put up a decent fight but eventually went down in four sets to continue his winless streak in Paris.

Medvedev will be more than happy at the ATP tour heading to the indoor hardcourts of St Petersburg this week, where his 34-year-old opponent Richard Gasquet is unlikely to give the lanky Russian too much trouble.

Gasquet has struggled to get match wins after a groin surgery last year. The Frenchman did, however, take the game to World No. 10 Roberto Bautista Agut at the French Open, where he led the Spaniard by a double break in the first set before eventually collapsing to lose in straights.

Daniil Medvedev vs Richard Gasquet head-to-head

Richard Gasquet leads Daniil Medvedev by a margin of 1-0 in the head-to-head. The pair's only encounter came in Montpellier two years ago, where the Frenchman not only defeated, but also bagelled his younger counterpart in the first round.

Daniil Medvedev vs Richard Gasquet head-to-head

Richard Gasquet hits a backhand volley

Besides the losing head-to-head record against Richard Gasquet, Daniil Medvedev also trails all French players in tour-level matches by a margin of 10-19. When you look at those numbers, it becomes abundantly clear that the Russian does not do well against players with flair - something the French are known for.

Gasquet has a powerful single-handed backhand and can turn up the style with his delicate drop volleys. The Frenchman also has accurate groundstrokes, but does not hit as penetratingly from his forehand side as he does off the backhand.

Medvedev, on the other hand, is comfortable in all departments of the game. He won the title in St. Petersburg last year, and has shown some major improvements on his forehand wing since the tour resumption - a shot that he will try and target Gasquet's weak forehand with.

Indoor hardcourt also happens to be the 24-year-old's favorite surface to play on, as it accentuates the effect of his flat groundstrokes and big serve.

All things considered, Gasquet might be a little out of his depth when he takes on the defending champion in the first round.

Prediction: Daniil Medvedev to win in straight sets.