Maharashtra Open 2022: Lorenzo Musetti vs Aleksandar Vukic preview, head-to-head & prediction
Match details
Fixture: (2) Lorenzo Musetti vs Aleksandar Vukic
Date: 2 February 2022
Tournament: Tata Open Maharashtra
Round: Second round
Venue: Pune, India
Category: ATP 250
Surface: Outdoor Hardcourt
Prize money: $493,875
Match timing: Approx 4 pm local time, 10:30 am GMT, 5:30 am EST
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video | India - Star Sports, Jio TV and Disney Plus | Official Facebook, Twitter pages and YouTube channel of the Maharashtra Open
Lorenzo Musetti vs Aleksandar Vukic preview
Second seed Lorenzo Musetti will square off against Australian Aleksandar Vukic in the second round of the Maharashtra Open on Wednesday.
Musetti's start to the 2022 season has been disappointing. He lost in the opening round in singles and doubles at Adelaide International 1 and the Australian Open.
The Italian teenager tasted his first win of the season at the Maharashtra Open on Tuesday when he and Federico Gaio beat Hans Hach and Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela 6-4, 4-6, 10-8.
The impressive Italians Federico Gaio and Lorenzo Musetti outlast the Mexican pair in a gruelling encounter in the first round of the Men's Doubles at the #TataOpenMaharashtra 2022 🎾
#AdvantagePune #ATPTour #ATP #Tennis | @msltatennis @tatacompanies @atptour https://t.co/0FG4KTe7Nk
Musetti will be eager to build on that result and deliver a win in singles as well. The youngster has long been touted as a promising future prospect, but his poor start to the year has undermined his credentials.
Aleksandar Vukic, meanwhile, needed three sets to overcome Hugo Grenier 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(4) in the first round on Tuesday.
He's gradually been making his presence felt on the tour. The 25-year-old reached the quarterfinals of Adelaide International 2, where he put up quite a fight against eventual champion Thanasi Kokkinakis before losing in three sets. He also reached the second round of a Grand Slam for the first time at this year's Australian Open.
In a match that went the distance, @Vuki_SMASH23 pipped Hugo Grenier right at the end in the third-set tie-break 🎾
#AdvantagePune #ATPTour #ATP #Tennis | @msltatennis @tatacompanies @atptour https://t.co/BXxG4RdCIZ
Vukic will be eager to keep his good run going and make it deep into the draw at the Maharashtra Open.
Lorenzo Musetti vs Aleksandar Vukic head-to-head
This will be the first meeting between the two players, so the head-to-head is currently tied at 0-0.
Lorenzo Musetti vs Aleksandar Vukic prediction
Musetti will be the favorite on paper, given his ranking and experience, but Vukic is the one with momentum. The Australian has won four matches so far in 2022, unlike his opponent who's looking for his first singles win of the year.
Musetti has the game but hasn't demonstrated the consistency to go with it. His one-handed backhand packs quite a punch and has troubled his opponents in the past. But the question is when the 19-year-old will get it firing once again.
Vukic has made considerable progress over the last year. He has already defeated two top-40 players this year -- Lloyd Harris and Alexander Bublik.
This could be a tight match. The Italian youngster should sneak away with a win if he channels some of his best tennis.
Prediction: Lorenzo Musetti to win in three sets.