Andrey Rublev vs Gianluca Mager – First Round – Preview & Prediction | 2022 Australian Open
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THE FACTS
When is Andrey Rublev vs Gianluca Mager on and what time does it start? Andrey Rublev vs Gianluca Mager will take place on Tuesday 18th January, 2022 – not before 01:15 (UK)
Where is Andrey Rublev vs Gianluca Mager taking place? Andrey Rublev vs Gianluca Mager will take place at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia
What surface is Andrey Rublev vs Gianluca Mager being played on? Andrey Rublev vs Gianluca Mager will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Andrey Rublev vs Gianluca Mager? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Andrey Rublev vs Gianluca Mager
What channel is Andrey Rublev vs Gianluca Mager on in the UK? Andrey Rublev vs Gianluca Mager will be televised live on Eurosport
Where can I stream Andrey Rublev vs Gianluca Mager in the UK? Eurosport subscribers can stream Andrey Rublev vs Gianluca Mager live on their website, while Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match live on Sky Go
THE LOWDOWN
ANDREY RUBLEV
World number five Andrey Rublev won just the one title in 2021 at the Rotterdam Open which came as something of a surprise after such a dominative 2020. The 24-year-old did win the Davis Cup and ATP Cup as part of a talented Russian generation, though, and an additional Gold Medal in the Mixed Doubles at the Tokyo Olympic Games with Elena Vesnina. Rublev missed out on the ATP Cup this season with covid-19 and he will have to start rusty at the Australian Open with his last competitive match coming in early December.
GIANLUCA MAGER
Two round of 16 exits at Adelaide 1 and 2 so far this season is decent fare for world number 63 Gianluca Mager. The 27-year-old is much more competitive throughout the clay season, in which he famously beat in-form Dominic Thiem at the Rio Open in 2020 before losing to Cristian Garin in the final. Mager became the first victim of Aslan Karatsev’s stunning run to the semi-finals of the Australian Open last season in a straight-sets first round defeat.
THE PREDICTION
World number five Andrey Rublev contracted covid-19 late last year to see him miss out on the ATP Cup and with it his pre-Australian Open warm-up. However, given the sheer amount of tennis the 24-year-old has played over the last few seasons it could do him some good to come to Melbourne with less expectation and a kind opening draw in this first meeting with Gianluca Mager is pretty likely to fall his way comfortably. Rublev’s 2022 is an intriguing one with so many young players rising up the rankings but take him to win this encounter in straight sets, or a cautious outright within an accumulator.
