James Duckworth vs Aleksandar Vukic Prediction & Betting Tips - Almaty Open

Prediction published on 13/10/2024, 08:47  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 13/10/2024 at 09:19 in Tennis Predictions

We have an all-Australian clash in the first round of the indoor hard court Almaty Open. James Duckworth faces Aleksandar Vukic and both of these players are unseeded in this ATP 250 tournament. Here's our match prediction.

Aleksandar Vukic is 85th in the live rankings, up six places from his position in the last ranking list. The Australian made it through qualifying and into the third round of the Shanghai Masters and that included a straight sets victory over Casper Ruud.

The 28-year-old won four matches in that hard court tournament and it was a welcome return to form for him. Vukic had lost four of his previous five matches before Shanghai. He did get to the last 16 in Winston Salem two months ago but his best form this year has been on grass.

He's 1-1 in previous meetings with his fellow Australian and won their most recent match. That was played last year on a hard court in Miami and was revenge for a loss to Duckworth four years before that.

James Duckworth is up to 63rd in the live rankings after winning a Challenger Tour event held in Hangzhou. He entered that after a first round exit in the Shanghai Masters. That was his fourth successive defeat on the ATP Tour, all on this surface. 

The Australian has only won two successive matches in an ATP Tour hard court event twice this year. It remains to be seen if that Challenger Tour win boosts his confidence but we tip Vukic to win and then face either Adrian Mannarino or Roman Safiullin in round two.