Alexei Popyrin vs Arthur Rinderknech Prediction & Betting Tips - Kitzbuhel, Austria

Prediction published on 01/08/2023, 02:56  by Daniel Ngulu in Tennis Predictions

World number 57 Alexei Popyrin will play world number 67 Arthur Rinderknech on Tuesday at the Generali Open. Popyrin is playing in Kitzbuhel as a special exempt player. He comes here after winning the Croatia Open. He beat former champion Stan Wawrinka in three sets to secure only his second tour title. This was also the first title of the season for the Australian. Popyrin is having a decent campaign thus far and has registered a 30-20 record. Half of his 30 victories have come on clay. This, coupled with the fact that he has already defeated Rinderknech this season, Popyrin will be confident of winning this match. The two players have met twice before but never on clay. His success in Umag has moved him up to 53rd in the live ranking, a new career high. Popyrin is making his debut in Kitzbuhel.

This is Arthur Rinderknech’s second appearance in Kitzbuhel. The last time he was here, two seasons ago, he made it to the semifinals. This will be the least of his targets as he also arrives here after a title run. The Frenchman triumphed in Zug Switzerland in the Challenger circuit for his first title of the year. This is the highlight of a difficult campaign for Rinderknech. Before arriving in Zug, he had struggled for form and despite his recent success, he is still on a losing record. The 28-year-old has lost three more matches than the 17 he has won. The majority of his victories - eight - have come on clay where he has also lost five times. He defeated Popyrin the first time they met; last season at the Australian Open. Rinderknech has also moved up the live ranking and is currently placed at number 65. The winner of this first-round tie will play second-seed Yannick Hanfmann in the second round.