Karen Khachanov vs Yoshihito Nishioka Prediction & Betting Tips - Shenzhen Open, China

Prediction published on 25/09/2023, 13:12  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 25/09/2023 at 14:13 in Tennis Predictions

The top and bottom seeds meet in the final of the Zhuhai Championships. Top seed Karen Khachanov is up against the eighth seeded Yoshihito Nishioka. Khachanov was ranked 15th when this hard court tournament got underway. He can move up to 14th if winning this final but still has only an outside chance of reaching the Tour Finals. Khachanov is 14th in the Live ATP Race but around 900 points behind the final qualifying position. He'll need to win this final and then go deep in the Shanghai and Paris Masters to give himself a chance. The 27-year-old has missed time this year due to injury and this is only his second tournament since the French Open. It's gone well for him though with only one set lost in his three matches. The last four saw him get a straight sets win over fourth seeded Sebastian Korda, the second seed he's beaten this week. He leads his opponent 3-1 in previous meetings, all played on hard courts and two at the Australian Open. They played there this year and two of the three sets didn't see Nishioka win a game. The last two matches have seen three tie-breaks played, so a bet on at least one in this game could be a good idea.

Yoshihito Nishokia was ranked 46th but has climbed to 38th in the live list and can move up to 35th if beating Khachanov. The Japanese player was as high as 24th in June but has had a poor run of form, losing seven of his last eight matches before this tournament. The return of the ATP Tour to Asia seems to have inspired him and this is his third final in the continent. He didn't look that inspired in the first round tough. Nishioka didn't win a game in the first set against Terence Atmane but then lost just six games in the next two. He's won three matches in straight sets since then including wins over third seed Jan-Lennard Struff and in the last four, Aslan Karatsev. We tip Khachanov to win this final.