China Open 2024: Jannik Sinner vs Roman Safiullin preview, head-to-head, prediction and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (1) Jannik Sinner vs Roman Safiullin
Date: September 28, 2024
Tournament: China Open 2024
Round: Second Round (Round of 16)
Venue: National Tennis Center, Beijing, China
Category: ATP 500
Surface: Hard-court
Prize Money: $3,720,165
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN
Jannik Sinner vs Roman Safiullin preview
Top seed Jannik Sinner will look to keep his bid for a seventh title in 2024 alive when he takes on Roman Safiullin in the second round of the 2024 China Open. The Italian is having an incredible season so far, capturing six titles, including two Majors at the Australian Open and the US Open.
Sinner has lost only five matches throughout the season, but only two of those losses have come on hard courts. Five of his six titles have come on hard courts where he has excelled with his power-hitting and excellent court coverage. He opened his China Open campaign with a shaky start against Chilean Nicolas Jarry in the first round. The top seed dropped the first set, before turning the match around to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.
Roman Safiullin, on the other hand, has won only 14 of the 25 matches that he has played on the ATP Tour so far this season. The Russian player last played at the Chengdu Open, where he lost in the second round against the eventual champion Juncheng Shang.
Safiullin had a great hard-court start to the season, as he reached the semi-final of the Brisbane International, losing to Holger Rune. At the China Open, the World No. 69 lost to Roberto Bautista Agut in the qualifying round. The Russian began his campaign at the China Open as a lucky loser, winning against former Major champion Stan Wawrinka in the first round.
Jannik Sinner vs Roman Safiullin head-to-head
Jannik Sinner has a 2-0 lead over Roman Safiullin in the head-to-head between the two. Their last encounter came at the quarterfinals of Wimbledon 2023, with the Italian winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 to reach his maiden Major semifinal.
Jannik Sinner vs Roman Safiullin odds
(Odds will be updated once available)
Jannik Sinner vs Roman Safiullin prediction
Accurate serving has been key to Sinner's hard court success this year. The Italian has won 71 percent of his service points and won 91 percent of his service games on hard courts. On the return side, he has taken advantage of the opponent's second serves, as he has won 59 percent of the second serve return points. As a result, he has converted 42 percent of the break-point opportunities on hard courts.
Roman Safiullin could only win 5 hard-court matches after his semi-final stint at the Brisbane International. He achieved a career-high ranking of 36 at the beginning of the year. However, the Russian player's form has dipped as the season has gone by, as he has dropped to 69 on the rankings.
The top seed will be the undisputed favorite going into this match and should not have much issue beating Safiullin.
Pick- Sinner to win in straight sets