Dubai Tennis Championships 2022: Andrey Rublev vs Jiri Vesely preview, head-to-head and prediction
Match Details
Fixture: (2) Andrey Rublev vs (Q) Jiri Vesely.
Tournament: Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships 2022.
Date: 26 February 2022.
Round: Final.
Venue: Dubai, UAE.
Category: ATP 500.
Surface: Outdoor Hardcourt.
Prize money: $2,794,840
Match timing: Approx 7 pm local time, 3 pm GMT, 8.30 pm IST.
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video.
Andrey Rublev vs Jiri Vesely preview
Second seed Andrey Rublev will take on Jiri Vesely in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Saturday.
Rublev began his season at the Australian Open, where he was seeded fifth. However, he was eliminated in the third round by Marin Cilic in four sets.
The 24-year-old then competed in the Rotterdam Open as the second seed. He reached the semifinals following straight-set wins over Henri Laaksonen, Kwon Soon-woo and Marton Fucsovics. However, he lost to eventual champion Felix Auger-Aliassime in the last four.
The Russian then entered the the Open 13 Provence as the second seed and reached the final after fighting off Richard Gasquet, Lucas Pouille and Benjamin Bonzi. He beat Auger-Aliassime 7-5, 7-6(4) to win the ninth title of his career.
Rublev entered the Dubai Tennis Championships as the second seed and reached the semifinals after beating Dan Evans, Kwon Soon-woo and Mackenzie McDonald. He then came through a monumental battle with fifth seed Hubert Hurkacz in the last four.
The big-serving Pole took the opening set but Rublev fought back and won the next two to take a 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(5) victory and reach his second final of 2022.
🏻Rublev to the FINALS! 🙌🏻🙌🏻
@AndreyRublev97
#DDFTennis #ATP @ATPTour https://t.co/Oj1SY5cebU
Meanwhile, Vesely started the year with opening-round exits at the Adelaide International 1, Sydney International and the Australian Open. The Czech registered his first win of the year against Bernabe Zapata Miralles in the second round of the Maharashtra Open. However, he lost to Emil Ruusuvuori in the quarterfinals.
He then competed at the Qatar Open, where he suffered his fourth first-round elimination of the year at the hands of Arthur Rinderknech. The 28-year-old then qualified for the main draw of the Dubai Tennis Championships and reached the quarterfinals after beating Marin Cilic and Roberto Bautista Agut.
Vesely scripted the upset of the tournament by beating Novak Djokovic in the last eight. This was his second career victory over the Serb.
The 28-year-old then locked horns with Denis Shapovalov in the semifinals. The Canadian took the opening set in a tie-break but Vesely fought back to take the second set by the same scoreline.
Shapovalov broke the Czech in the third set and served for the match at 5-4. However, Vesely broke back immediately and eventually won the set via a tie-break to reach the final.
🏼Vesely defeats Shapovalov (6-7)(7-6)(7-6) & moves on to the finals! 👏🏼👏🏼
@jiri_vesely
#DDFTennis #ATP @ATPTour https://t.co/VdnYZ5WGxN
Andrey Rublev vs Jiri Vesely head-to-head
Saturday's final will be the first meeting between Rublev and Vesely, so the head-to-head currently stands at 0-0.
Andrey Rublev vs Jiri Vesely prediction
Rublev will be the heavy favorite entering the match, but given Vesely's run of form, he has a fair chance of winning.
The Czech may be ranked 123rd in the world but he has found his rhythm in Dubai. Vesely will be high on confidence after beating three players ranked in the top 20, with his victory over Djokovic hogging the headlines.
Rublev, meanwhile, has been severely tested in this tournament. He has had to fight back from a set down in all but one of his matches.
The Russian will look to trouble Vesely with his serve and powerful forehand. The Czech is not a great mover and Rublev can apply the pressure by forcing him to move from side to side.
Vesely has a powerful serve and will look to win as many cheap points as he can. The 28-year-old has a solid forehand and his backhand can also prove to be an effective weapon, especially in long rallies.
Vesely will undoubtedly put up a fight but Rublev should manage to win the match and clinch his second title of the year.
Prediction: Andrey Rublev to win in three sets.