INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 13: Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan plays Andy Murray of Great Britain during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 13, 2022 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka locks horns with Kazakhstani No. 1 Alexander Bublik in the round of 32 of the 2023 ATP Rotterdam on Monday.
In the first-ever United Cup, Wawrinka edged past Alexander Bublik but lost to Hubert Hurkacz. The experienced campaigner is still going strong and will fancy his chances against a player who is low on confidence.
After the United Cup, Wawrinka took part in the Australian Open. The 3-time Grand Slam champion was ousted in the first round by Alex Molcan after winning the first two out of three sets in what was a riveting encounter.
It has been a tough start to the year for Alexander Bublik. He is currently on a 9-match losing streak as his last win came in October 2022.
Bublik lost to Stan Wawrinka and Hubert Hurkacz in the United Cup. He went on to play in the ASB Classic but his run ended in the first round following a loss to David Goffin. Bublik gave a tough fight to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the first round of the Australian Open. The Russian-born athlete won two out of the first three sets but the Spaniard managed to bounce back to pick up a thrilling win in five sets. Bublik entered the Montpellier Open last week as the 6th seed and the defending champion. His defense ended with a tough loss against eventual quarterfinalist Gregoire Barrere. He broke three racquets in this encounter out of anger which garnered a lot of flak.
Alexander Bublik has a slender 2-1 lead over Stan Wawrinka in the head-to-head scoreline. Wawrinka’s only win came in their most recent encounter in the inaugural United Cup.
Prediction: Stan Wawrinka to win in three sets.
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