Alexei Popyrin vs Tomas Machac Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP National Bank Open

Prediction published on 06/08/2024, 14:26  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 06/08/2024 at 14:56 in Tennis Predictions

Tomas Machac takes on fellow unseeded player Alexei Popyrin in the first round of the National Bank Open. For the winner, there's a second round match against either seventh-seeded Grigor Dimitrov or a qualifier. Here's our Machac v Popyrin prediction.

Machac is the world number 39 which is six places below his career-high of 33rd achieved in June. The Czech recently reached the final of the Geneva clay court tournament but now returns to playing on hard courts.

He will want to continue the form that saw him get to the last eight of the Miami Masters. That was his second ATP Tour hard court quarter-final of the year. He also got to the last eight in the Marseille indoor tournament.

To reach round two, Alexei Popyrin must beat Tomas Machac for the first time. Their only previous meeting was on a hard court at Indian Wells two years ago with Machac winning in straight sets. The Australian was 38th in the world in February but is now down to 62nd. 

This is only his fifth hard court tournament of the year. His best run was in Doha where he reached the semi-final but two of his wins came against players ranked outside the top 100. This could be close but we tip Machac to get the win.