Karen Khachanov vs Kei Nishikori: Prediction and Betting Tips

Karen Khachanov

Karen Khachanov didn’t have a good start to the clay season this year until he played in Lyon. The 25-year-old Russian lost in the first rounds in Barcelona, Madrid, and Rome Open. He lost in the second round of the Monte Carlo Open. His best result this year was reaching the semi-finals in Lyon where he lost to Norrie in two sets.

In his first-round match at Roland Garros, Khachanov beat Jiri Vesely whom he beat in the second round last year, in straight sets dropping just six games in the whole match. The Russian’s best result in the French was reaching the quarter-finals in 2019. He lost to Dominic Thiem in three sets.

Kei Nishikori

Nishikori has a 6-3 win/loss record this year on clay. He won two matches in Barcelona before losing in the third round to Rafael Nadal. In the Madrid Open, the Japanese faced Khachanov in the first round and won in three sets. In the first round, Nishikori had trouble pushing aside Italian qualifier Giannessi in five sets.

Three times Nishikori has made it to the quarter-finals as his best result on the red clay of Roland Garros. The Japanese is well known for his ability to sneak through the first week of the Grand Slams as he did in his first-round match. The former top ten player is returning this year from a long-term injury and he’ll be happy to go as far as he can in his second Grand Slam of 2021.

Key Points

• Khchanov won 86% of the points behind his first serve in his first match
• Khachanov has played an average of 25.5 games per match on clay in the last 52 weeks
• Nishikori has played an average of 26.8 games per match on clay in the last 52 weeks
• Nishikori has won 47.8% of the games he played on clay in the last year

Karen Khachanov vs Kei Nishikori Prediction

Despite the fact that Khachanov is 24 places above Nishikori in the rankings, the Russian knows that it won’t be an easy game. They have met just once on clay and it was in Madrid this year. After winning the first set, Khachanov lost the next two. 

Nishikori is known for his cool-headed style of play and his ability in turning around matches as he did in his last meeting with Khachanov and in the first round of the current French Open. The World number 49 is a fighter and we expect him to give Khachanov a hard time.

We will back the total games to be played in this game and we predict it will be a close match so we will go with over 36.5 games.

Karen Khachanov vs Kei Nishikori Betting Tips

Over 36.5 Games 1.81 at Vbet

Nishikori to win 2.13 at Vbet