Karen Khachanov, Russia’s number 19 seed will play Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis in the second round of the 2021 Australian Open on Thursday, February 11. Timings of this match will be available upon the release of order of play. Get the live streaming options of this Karen Khachanov v Ricardas Berankis match along with its preview, head to head, and tips here.
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Karen Khachanov v Ricardas Berankis Head to Head
The head-to-head is tied at 1-1. Berankis won their first meeting dating back to 2014 at the Reunion Challenger, but it was Khachanov who won their most recent match in Montpellier in 2018. Both matches were straight sets victories.
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Khachanov Pushed To the Limit By Vukic
It was never expected to be close, but Karen Khachanov was pushed to his absolute limits by Australian power hitter Aleksandar Vukic in match stretching just over the three-hour mark.
The Australian wildcard outhit his Russian opponent from the baseline, using his unplayable forehand to dictate rallies and finishing with aplomb. Vukic fired more aces (15 to 10), more winners (44 to 33), but failed in the clutch moments and the numbers that mattered.
A lone break of serve was what Khachanov needed to take a tight first set, and it set the tone for the rest of the afternoon. Vukic, on his debut appearance in a Grand Slam, had played so well despite trailing. He grew into the match and embraced the occasion to force a second set tiebreak.
While the forehand was causing Khachanov plenty of tough questions, it was a backhand down the line that clinched the set for the wildcard. The Russian upped the ante in third set which also went to a tiebreak and he raced to take 7-2. At that juncture Vukic’s serve was deteriorating. Khachanov was putting a lot of pressure in the fourth set and Vukic duly complied as he lost his serve in the fifth and the Russian did not look back.
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Berankis Beats Nagal In Straight Sets
For the second time in as many days, Ricardas Berankis met Sumit Nagal at Melbourne Park, and the outcome remained unchanged. Lithuania’s finest ended Nagal’s bid to win his first match at the Australian Open in just over two hours, by a score 6-2 7-5 6-3.
This win follows the straight sets win that Berankis registered over the 23-year-old wildcard at the Murray River Open just a week ago. Nagal, who became the first Indian man in seven years to win a Grand Slam match at last year’s US Open, recorded a spate of unforced errors.
Berankis was sharp and incisive, and painting the lines brilliantly from the back of the court. He also produced deft touches at the net, winning 81% of net points. Overall, the Lithuanian was clinical in his break point conversion as compared to Nagal. He won 6 out of 14, and the Indian youngster fashioned 11, but only converted two.
Berankis has never gone beyond the third round at any of the four Grand Slams. It will certainly be a momentous occasion for him on Thursday.
Khachanov v Berankis Prediction and Tip
Khachanov needed to stay alert to any mishaps to subdue a valiant effort of Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic. This next test against Berankis should not be a foregone conclusion. The Lithuanian is a pesky customer on hard courts, but Khachanov is playing consistent tennis right now to fall.
Tip: Khachanov to win in four sets: 13/5 (bet365)
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The 2021 Australian Open will be played from February 8 to 21. You can watch & bet on the these matches here. Get your latest premium tennis predictions here.
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