World number 29 Sebastian Korda will be up against the 103rd-ranked Roman Safiullin in the second round of the 2023 ATP Italian Open on Friday, May 12. Get the predictions and odds of this Sebastian Korda v Roman Safiullin match along with its preview, head to head, and tips here.
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Sebastian Korda v Roman Safiullin Head to Head
Korda and Safiullin have never faced off in a competitive match before this.
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Korda Hoping to Put Injury Behind
After having made a strong start to the season which saw Korda make the final of the Adelaide International and then enter the quarterfinal at the Australian Open, the American was out of action for three months.
This was after he suffered a wrist injury that had also forced him to retire from his last eight encounter against Karen Khachanov at the season’s first major. Korda would later go on to reveal the pain was so bad he couldn’t hold his racquet on some points.
It was more than three months after that retirement that Korda returned to action at the Madrid Masters where he fell to Hugo Grenier in the second round. He had come in as a favourite but the rustiness was evident.
Korda will take some positives out of that encounter though as the world number 29 put up a fighting display, taking Grenier to two tie-breakers before bowing out.
Interestingly, the bookmakers had him a 1/3 favourite for that match but he starts an 11/10 underdog here.
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Safiullin Eases Past Giron
Marcos Giron hasn’t had the best results on clay and while he had eased past his qualifying opponents, he proved to be no match for Safiullin.
Safiullin carved out a 6-4, 6-3 victory in an hour and 19 minutes over Giron to register his third clay court win of the season. The Russian, again as a qualifier, had made the third round of the Madrid Masters as well, defeating Nicolas Jarry and Tommy Paul in successive rounds.
The two players traded breaks in the first two games of the opening set before Safiullin got himself a decisive break in the fifth game. He followed that up with three successive holds to love and a break of serve in the very first game of the second set.
The Russian broke yet again in the seventh game and while Giron pulled one back in the eighth, Safiullin returned the favour and won off his fourth match-point.
Safiullin starts off a favourite here thanks to his own form on clay and his opponent’s lack of tennis.
Korda v Safiullin Prediction and Tip
At 11/10, Korda looks to be a tempting punt given he will slowly return to his best and even with that kind of rustiness it might not be too bad a chance for him to win here.
Tips:
- Low Risk Tip: Korda to win a set: 2/5
- Moderate Risk Tip: Korda to win: 11/10
The 2023 ATP Rome Open will be played from May 9 to 21. You can get all the tennis betting news with our tennis betting blog here. Also get rest of the tennis match previews here.
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