Stuttgart 2022: Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Andy Murray preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick | Boss Open
Match Details
Fixture: (1) Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Andy Murray
Date: 10 June 2022
Tournament: Boss Open 2022.
Round: Quarterfinals.
Venue: Stuttgart, Germany.
Category: ATP 250.
Surface: Grass.
Prize money: €769,645.
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | Canada - TSN | UK - Amazon Prime Video | India - Discovery.
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Andy Murray preview
No. 1 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas will lock horns with Andy Murray in the quarterfinals of the Boss Open in Stuttgart on Friday.
Tsitsipas got his grasscourt season off to a fine start with a straight-sets victory over Dominic Stricker.
The World No. 5 faced two break points in the fifth game of the first set but managed to hold his serve and keep the pressure on the 19-year-old. In the very next game, Tsitsipas created two break-point oppportunites and converted on the second time of asking, opening up a substantial lead.
The Greek faced no problems while serving for the set and clinched it 6-3. Flustered by the variety of shots Tsitsipas had to offer, Stricker lost his serve in the very first game of the second set.
Tsitsipas won 100% of the points on his first serve in the second set, putting an end to the Swiss' three-match win streak and securing a place in the last eight of the Boss Open.
His next opponent, former World No. 1 Andy Murray, initially decided to withdraw from the claycourt season to avoid the stress of playing on the red dirt and focus on the grass swing. The Brit, however, reversed his decision and played at the Madrid Open before pulling out of Roland Garros.
His run in Stuttgart started on a positive note with masterly wins over Christopher O'connell and Alexander Bublik en route to the quarterfinals.
Murray played well in the first set against Bublik and won it 6-3. He couldn't keep up the momentum though and lost his serve to go down 5-2 in the second set.
The former World No. 1 saved two set points at 3-5 and another on his serve at 4-5 to level the set before forcing a tie-break. He used all of his experience to get past the Kazakh 6-3, 7-6(4) and secure his place in the last eight of the Boss Open.
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Andy Murray head-to-head
Tsitsipas leads the head-to-head 1-0 against Murray. He defeated the Brit 2-6, 7-6(7), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 at the US Open last year.
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Andy Murray odds
All odds are sourced by BetMGM.
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Andy Murray prediction
Tsitsipas adapted quickly to the fast and low bouncing conditions in Stuttgart and pulled off some exquisite shots under pressure in his previous match against Stricker. He won plenty of points on his first serve, but he will hope to improve his first-serve percentage, which stood at a measly 48%.
Andy Murray has always favoured grass and has looked in good touch in Stuttgart with back-to-back wins. Over the last year or so, Murray has made adjustments to his game by trying to be more aggressive and finishing off points quickly.
His first serve has improved and he will likely use his backhand slice extensively against the Greek. He will also look to flatten out his forehand and approach the net, taking time away from Tsitsipas.
The Greek, on the other hand, will look to move the 35-year-old around the court. While his forehand is a huge weapon on any surface, his backhand, primarily off the return, remains a weak link.
He'll have to find a way to return well off that wing if he wants to get past a capable grasscourt player in Murray. All things considered, Tsitsipas might just be able to pass this tricky test and advance to the last four.
Pick: Tsitsipas to win in three sets.