Jiri Lehecka vs Karen Khachanov Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Dubai Open

Prediction published on 27/02/2024, 11:42  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 27/02/2024 at 23:05 in Tennis Predictions

Fourth seed Karen Khachanov is in top form and looking to win his second tournament in a row. He takes on unseeded Jiri Lehecka in the second round of the Dubai Tennis Championships. The winner will face either the seventh seed Alexander Bublik or unseeded Tallon Griekspoor. Khachanov won the title in Doha last weekend and now looks to win another outdoor hard court tournament. The Russian beat lucky loser Luis Van Assche in straight sets in round one and is currently 14th in the live rankings. He can't climb any higher than that even if winning this title. Khachanov is 11th in the Live ATP Race and reaching the last four can see him move into the top ten. He has won his last five matches and aside from the Doha title has also reached a semi-final in Marseille and the fourth round of the Australian Open this year.

To make it into the quarter finals, Jiri Lehecka has to get a first ever win over Khachanov. They have had two previous meetings and both were played on a hard court last year. Lehecka lost both matches with no sets won and just ten games won. The 22-year-old beat qualifier Marton Fucsovics in the first round of this tournament but had to go to three sets after losing the middle one. That win has taken him to 34th in the live rankings but still below his career high of 23rd. That was a welcome win after losing his last two matches in Marseille and Rotterdam. January saw him win the Adelaide International but he hasn't got past the second round of a tournament since then. We back Khachanov to get the win here.