Acapulco 2021: Milos Raonic vs Dominik Koepfer preview, head-to-head & prediction | Abierto Mexicano Telcel
Match details
Fixture: Milos Raonic vs Dominik Koepfer
Date: 17 March 2021
Tournament: Abierto Mexicano Telcel 2021
Round: Second round (Round of 16)
Venue: Acapulco, Mexico
Category: ATP 500
Surface: Outdoor hardcourt
Prize money: $1,053,560
Match timing: 6 pm local time, 5.30 am IST
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel
Milos Raonic vs Dominik Koepfer preview
Milos Raonic edged American Tommy Paul in a tight two-setter in his opening-round match at the 2021 Abierto Mexicano Telcel on Tuesday. The Canadian, who is playing in his first tournament since the Australian Open, looked in prime form as he won an impressive 75% points on his serve.
He is now set to take on Germany's Dominik Koepfer in the next round.
Koepfer made his ATP main draw debut in 2017, having played collegiate tennis up to that point. The German mainly competed on the Challenger circuit in his early years, but had a breakthrough run at the 2019 US Open.
Koepfer made it to the fourth round of the New York Slam that year, and even managed to take a set off eventual finalist Daniil Medvedev before bowing out in four sets.
That run propelled the 26-year-old into the top 100, and he has put up decent showings at the ATP tour events ever since.
Milos Raonic vs Dominik Koepfer head-to-head
Milos Raonic and Dominik Koepfer have never crossed paths on the tour before, so their current head-to-head stands at a 0-0 deadlock.
Milos Raonic vs Dominik Koepfer prediction
Milos Raonic started his season with a fourth-round finish at the Australian Open, but he hasn't played much tennis in the first three months of the year. The Canadian will be keen to find his footing now, and a deep run at Acapulco is likely to set him up well for the rest of the season.
Raonic has a power-packed game, and he will rely on his serve and groundstrokes to establish his edge in this match. The onus will be on the shoulders of Dominik Koepfer to cope with the pace of the shots coming from the other side of the net.
But while the German has given ample evidence of his abilities as a hardcourt player, he hasn't been at his best in recent weeks.
All things considered, Raonic appears to be the stronger of the two players - especially since he is far more experienced at the highest level of the tour. Unless Koepfer can pull out something special, he might be overpowered in this duel.
Prediction: Milos Raonic to win in straight sets.