2021 Australian Open Round of 16 – Andrey Rublev vs Casper Ruud Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Andrey Rublev vs Casper Ruud taking place? Melbourne Park, Melbourne
When is Andrey Rublev vs Casper Ruud on and what time does it start? Monday 15th February, 2021 – not before 03:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Andrey Rublev vs Casper Ruud? Click here to reach the official 2021 Australian Open ticket selection
What channel is Andrey Rublev vs Casper Ruud on? The 2021 Australian Open will be televised on Eurosport so it is worth checking their schedule for this specific match
Where can I stream Andrey Rublev vs Casper Ruud in the UK? Sky customers can stream this match on the Sky Go app. Alternatively, the match can be streamed to subscribers of Eurosport Player, either on the official website or as an add-on to an Amazon Prime subscription
THE LOWDOWN
ANDREY RUBLEV
- World number eight Andrey Rublev is looking more and more like a potential winner of this Australian Open with every passing round after he won his third consecutive match in assured straight sets.
- The 23-year-old has led a fairly charmed life at the Australian Open so far with no seeded players faced yet but to put out Feliciano Lopez on Saturday with little fuss is an impressive win.
CASPER RUUD
- 22-year-old Casper Ruud has played well in Melbourne to overcome three tough opponents in Jordan Thompson, Tommy Paul and most recently Radu Albot in four sets on Saturday.
- The world number 28 has faced Andrey Rublev twice before on tour, though oddly both at the same event with a round of 16 defeat to the Russian at the Hamburg Open in 2019 and the semi-finals there last season.
THE PREDICTION
Casper Rudd became the first Norwegian to reach the round of 16 at the Australian Open since his father, Christian Rudd, before him and this will be a fantastic match to watch between two potential future Grand Slam champions. Whilst Ruud has so far exhibited a penchant for the clay surface that could see him win at Roland-Garros one day, Andrey Rublev is showing a dominance of the players ranked below him well beyond his age at just 23 years old that should see him a multiple Grand Slam champion by the time he hangs up his racket. With every passing round the Russian looks more and more dangerous and, make no mistake, he fears no one on tour. Rublev has beaten Ruud in both their previous matches and with those coming on the Norwegian’s favoured clay surface there is little to suggest a swing in their head-to-head record in this hard-court clash. Ruud is well capable of taking a set here but Rublev is yet to concede one this campaign and it is likelier that his sheer will can bring him through in three here.
