2019 Halle Open – Matteo Berrettini vs Karen Khachanov Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Matteo Berrettini vs Karen Khachanov taking place? Gerry Weber Stadion, Halle
When is Matteo Berrettini vs Karen Khachanov on and what time does it start? Friday 21st June, 2019 – (not before) TBC (UK)
What is the expected weather for Matteo Berrettini vs Karen Khachanov? Cloudy, 22c
What channel is Matteo Berrettini vs Karen Khachanov on? This match will not be televised live in the UK
Where can I stream Matteo Berrettini vs Karen Khachanov? This match cannot be streamed live in the UK
Where can I get tickets for Matteo Berrettini vs Karen Khachanov? https://www.gerryweber-open.de/en/tickets/gerry-weber-open-2019/
THE LOWDOWN
HEAD-TO-HEAD
All-time meetings: Matteo Berrettini 2-0 Karen Khachanov
Last meeting: Matteo Berrettini beat Karen Khachanov 6-4, 6-2
MATTEO BERRETTINI
- Matteo Berrettini came through a testing encounter with Andreas Seppi in the second round as youth prevailed over experience with Berrettini defeating his compatriot 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
- The 23-year-old Italian is enjoying an excellent season as he continues to shoot up the rankings and he is full of confidence after winning in Stuttgart on the grass last week.
- On his way to the Stuttgart title, Berrettini defeated Khachanov along the way and that is actually his second win this year over the Russian, having also won their Sofia Open contest back in February.
KAREN KHACHANOV
- Karen Khachanov's second-round match saw him eliminate Jan-Lennard Struff on Wednesday and he will now seek revenge over the man who knocked him out in Stuttgart last week.
- The Russian has been a consistent performer in Halle over the last couple of years, reaching the semi-finals on his debut in 2017 before a run to the quarter-finals last year.
- After reaching the quarter-finals at the French Open and entering the top ten in the world for the first time, Khachanov will be looking for a deep run here in order to prepare him for Wimbledon but he is faced with an opponent who has had the better of him twice already this year.
THE PREDICTION
These two faced each other in Stuttgart just last week and it was Berrettini who was victorious on that occasion. The Italian then went on to win that event and he is proving that he can be a force on grass with many top players sitting up and taking notice. Khachanov has had something of an inconsistent season although entering the world's top ten for the first time is a huge milestone and he will seek to consolidate that now. Revenge will be on his mind after Stuttgart but this is a difficult match to call and could well go to a deciding set. Given his superior form on grass so far this year though, the edge goes to Berrettini to inflict another defeat on his Russian opponent.
