2021 Qatar Open Semi-Final – Roberto Bautista Agut vs Andrey Rublev Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Roberto Bautista Agut vs Andrey Rublev taking place? Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, Doha, Qatar
When is Roberto Bautista Agut vs Andrey Rublev on and what time does it start? Friday 12th March, 2021 – Not before 15:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Roberto Bautista Agut vs Andrey Rublev? Click here for the latest ticket information
What channel is Roberto Bautista Agut vs Andrey Rublev on? This match will not be televised live in the UK
Where can I stream Roberto Bautista Agut vs Andrey Rublev in the UK? Subscribers of Amazon Prime may be able to stream the match live via Prime Video while Tennis TV subscribers can also stream the match live
THE PREDICTION
World number eight and Qatar Open reigning champion Andrey Rublev has reached the semi-finals of the tournament without even swinging his racket after first Richard Gasquet and then Marton Fucsovics pulled out of the tournament. It looks as if such is the all-consuming power of this 23-year-old that he has started winning matches ethereally – which would not be too much of a surprise. His record against players outside of the top 10 is second to none but world number 13 Roberto Bautista Agut is exactly the kind of player that can go toe-to-toe with the Russian. RBA’s grit makes him incredibly tough to beat and he showed that in his three-set defeat of the first seed Dominic Thiem on Thursday. Bautista Agut and Rublev share a 2-2 head-to-head record and his never-say-die attitude should make him a contender in this fixture especially as Rublev is yet to play in Doha. RBA is a former champion of this event just like Rublev and this should be a fascinating battle on court. The lack of playing time is unlikely to affect Rublev too much and that should see him take this via a deciding set, though opting for a total of three sets and leaving the winner up to chance would be the wiser move.
