Grigor Dimitrov vs Aslan Karatsev Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Australian Open

Prediction published on 14/02/2021, 16:49  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 14/02/2021 at 17:50 in Tennis Predictions

Grigor Dimitrov is seeded 18th for this tournament but has a great chance of making it to the last four. He takes on Aslan Karatsev who is ranked 114th in the world but has knocked out two seeds. Dimitrov made it through to the last eight with a straight sets defeat of third seed Dominic Thiem in the last sixteen. He's already been in three Grand Slam semi-finals including one here four years ago. He nearly made it through to the final but lost a five-setter to Rafael Nadal. His preparation for this first Grand Slam of the year didn't go well. He lost in the last eight to world number 80 Corentin Moutet. This tournament has gone much better though, though he hasn't had an easy route to the quarter finals. He drew Marin Cilic in the first round but beat the former top ten player in straight stes. He's had wins over 15th seeded Pablo Carrena Busta and then Dominic Thiem. His match against Busta only lasted seven games before his opponent had to retire.

His opponent has had the week of his life and he'll be in the top 100 when the next list is published. His first Grand Slam was in 2014 but this is the first time he's managed to qualify for the main draw. He had to win three matches to get into this tournament but all were ranked below him. He's certainly made the most of his opportunity with no sets dropped in his first three matches. He only lost one game when beating Egor Gerasimov in the second round. Two seeds have been beaten by the qualifer. He defeated ninth seeded Diego Schwartzmann in the third round but then ran into trouble against 20th seeded Feliz Auger-Alliassime in the last sixteen. He had to come from two sets down to get the win. That may well have taken a fair bit out of him. Dimitrov can be backed to win this match.