Italian Open 2022: Novak Djokovic vs Aslan Karatsev preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (1) Novak Djokovic vs Aslan Karatsev
Date: 10 May 2022
Tournament: Italian Open 2022.
Round: Second round (Round of 32).
Venue: Rome, Italy.
Category: ATP Masters 1000.
Surface: Clay.
Prize money: €5,415,410.
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video | India - Voot & Sports 18.
Novak Djokovic vs Aslan Karatsev preview
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will take on Aslan Karatsev in the second round of the Italian Open.
The Serb made a shaky start to the season but looks to be improving with every tournament. Djokovic started the season by reaching the quarterfinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships, where he lost to Jiri Vesely. He then suffered a second-round exit at the hands of Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the Monte-Carlo Masters.
The Serb reached his first final of 2022 at the Serbia Open, where he was beaten by Andrey Rublev.
Djokovic then competed at the Madrid Open, where his run was ended by eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz. The top seed won the opening set in a tie-break but the Spaniard fought back and took the next two to complete a 6-7(5), 7-5, 7-6(5) win.
An instant classic 🎾
Thank you, Carlos. Thank you, Novak.
@alcarazcarlos03 | @DjokerNole | #MMOPEN https://t.co/OS6wH6Wtl9
Karatsev, meanwhile, started his season by winning the Sydney International, beating Andy Murray in the final. However, he spiraled into a slump soon after.
After three consecutive opening-round defeats during the ongoing clay swing, the Russian won his first match of the season on the surface in Rome on Sunday. The 28-year-old did not have it easy as he needed to save a match point in the third-set tie-break to see off Lloyd Harris 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(7).
The win set him up a second-round showdown with the top seed and five-time Rome champion Djokovic.
@David__Goffin continues his inspired clay-court form with a 6-2 7-5 win over Karatsev.
Goffin goes forward ➡️
🇧🇪 @David__Goffin continues his inspired clay-court form with a 6-2 7-5 win over Karatsev.
@MutuaMadridOpen | #MMOPEN https://t.co/3wyPs3Vr7t
Novak Djokovic vs Aslan Karatsev head-to-head
Djokovic and Karatsev are tied 1-1 in their head-to-head.
The first match between the two took place in the semifinals of the Australian Open last year, where Djokovic triumphed 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.
The second time Djokovic and Karatsev clashed was in the semifinals of the Serbia Open in Belgrade the same year. On that occasion, the Russian won 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.
Novak Djokovic vs Aslan Karatsev odds
All odds sourced from Oddschecker
Novak Djokovic vs Aslan Karatsev prediction
Djokovic will undoubtedly enter the match as the heavy favorite to win. The Serb has had a few matches under his belt and looks a lot better now than in Monte Carlo.
Karatsev, on the other hand, has had a torrid season so far with only nine wins out of 19 matches so far. The Russian does not have a very good record on clay either, with only 10 wins out of 19 matches on the surface.
Djokovic will no doubt try and dominate from the baseline from the get-go. Karatsev is prone to lapses given his high-risk style of play and will have to be very careful in his shot-making to avoid making too many unforced errors.
The Russian has a powerful first serve but his second serve is an area of concern. If his serving woes resurface, Djokovic will have little trouble beating the Russian and getting through to the last 16.
Pick: Djokovic to win in straight sets.
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