Max Purcell vs Billy Harris Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Eastbourne International

Prediction published on 27/06/2024, 15:21  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 28/06/2024 at 04:52 in Tennis Predictions

The bottom half of the Eastbourne International will see an unseeded player reach the final. Wild card Billy Harris takes on qualifier Max Purcell for a place in the final of this grass court championship. Waiting in the title decider will be either top seed Taylor Fritz or lucky loser Aleksandar Vukic.

Friday is going to be a massive day for Harris. Not only will he be in his first ATP Tour semi-final but also find out his opponent in round one at Wimbledon. The past few weeks have been career-changing for the British player. He was down at 201st in the rankings but is now up to 116th. Two semi-finals were reached on the Challenger Tour and then the last eight at Queen’s Club.

He’s gone a round further this week after wins against Jacob Fearnsley, Charles Broom and Flavio Cobolli. The last two of those victories have seen him have to come from a set down.

Before this week, world number 94 Max Purcell had failed to get past the last 16 of an ATP Tour event. He was ranked 45th at the start of this year but it’s been a disappointing one for the Australian. This run to the last four in Eastbourne has taken him up to 80th in the live rankings. 

On grass this year, Purcell failed to get past the first round in his first two tournaments. He had to win two matches to qualify for this main draw beating two British players, both ending 7-6 6-4. In the main draw, wins have come against Laslo Djere (in three sets), Lorenzo Sonego and Miomir Kecmanovic, all unseeded.

This is the second time that he’s come through the qualifiers in this tournament to reach the last four. We tip him to win this match.