Former World No. 4 and 2014 US Open finalist Kei Nishikori will lock horns with 48th-ranked Guido Pella of Argentina, in the first round of the 2021 Barcelona Open on Monday, April 19. Get the live streaming options of this Kei Nishikori v Guido Pella match along with its preview, head to head, and tips here.
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Kei Nishikori v Guido Pella Head to Head
No matches have been played between Nishikori and Pella before this match in Barcelona.
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Can Nishikori Kickstart Barcelona Campaign with a Win?
Nishikori, who is now ranked 39th in the world, will be hoping to kickstart his Barcelona campaign on a positive note. The Japanese superstar, who has compiled a not so impressive 6-7 win/loss record for the year, is coming into the tournament on the back of a second round exit at the hands of World No.5 Stefanos Tsitsipas in Miami.
Despite his recent struggles with a series of injuries and the drop in his rankings, there’s no denying the fact that Nishikori is a major threat on any surface, even on the European clay courts.
After all, who could forget his performance against the ‘King of Clay’ Rafael Nadal in the 2014 Madrid Masters final, when he led the Spaniard by a set and a break, literally dominating Rafa in all the departments of the game. However, he was unable to close out the contest due to a back injury and ultimately, it was Nadal, who came back from behind to win the title.
Nadal is not the only big name in men’s tennis that Nishikori has beaten or troubled in the past.
In fact, apart from defeating Nadal, the Shimane native has victories over former World No. 1 Roger Federer, reigning Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic and three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka to show off on his CV as well.
Nishikori, who is known for his exceptional backhand is an excellent returner and can even the very best with his powerful ground-strokes from the baseline. The Japanese would look to employ all of his strengths during his stay in Barcelona. But, his health would eventually decide his fate in Spain because if Nishikori is physically fit, it is extremely hard to stop him on the court.
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Pella in Strife in 2021
Challenging Nishikori in the first round of the Barcelona Open, is the Argentine Guido Pella, who has been in extremely poor form to say the least. Actually, terming his form as poor is an understatement, considering he has made first round exits in three consecutive tournaments.
While in February, Pella lost to rising Croatian star Borna Coric at the Australian Open in Melbourne in three tough sets, he was hammered by Egor Gerasimov of Belarus in Cagliari.
In Monte Carlo, he lost his opener to former US Open semifinalist Lucas Pouille 6-3, 6-4 and with that completed a hat-trick of first round defeats in successive events.
The sad news is that Pella has only won one match this season and that came way back nearly three months ago, when he beat Nishikori’s countryman Yoshihito Nishioka in a round robin match of the ATP Cup in Melbourne.
Nishikori v Pella Prediction and Tip
World No. 39 Nishikori starts as the overwhelming favourite in this match because he is the more experienced of the two players. Moreover, the Japanese is in much better form, when compared to his opponent Pella. Expecting a Nishikori win in two easy sets.
Tip: Nishikori to win in straight sets: 1/1 (bet365)
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The 2021 Barcelona Open will be played from April 19 to 25. You can watch & bet on these matches here. Get your latest premium tennis predictions here.
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