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Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Gilles Simon Prediction: Australian Open 2021
Stefanos Tsitsipas kickstarts his Australian Open campaign in Melbourne with an exciting clash against veteran Gilles Simon.
The fifth seed, Tsitsipas took part in the ATP Cup for Greece but could not take them past the group stage. He notched up straight-set victories against Alex de Minaur and Roberto Bautista Agut.
Simon is playing his 15th Australian Open. The Frenchman was in action in the Murray River Open where he was ousted by compatriot, Jeremy Chardy in straight sets.
This is the first meeting between both the players on the tour.
Tsitsipas had his best performance in the Australian Open in 2019 where he reached the semifinals.
Simon has had a forgettable record in grand slams recently having crossed the second round previously in Wimbledon 2018.
At the peak of his powers, Simon was very consistent on hardcourts with his powerful groundstrokes.
Age has slowed down the movement of the Frenchman. If he gets his rhythm right with counterpunching and defense, Tsitsipas could be in big trouble.
Simon last lost in the first round at Melbourne Park in 2007 and will look to maintain that streak this year. In the last three years, World number 64 has reached the second round in the tournament.
Tsitsipas was defeated in the third round last year by Milos Raonic in straight sets.
The crucial stats will matter for Tsitsipas
| Player Name | Stefanos Tsitsipas |
|---|---|
| First Serve Points Won | 76% |
| Service Games Won | 86.20% |
| Return Points Won on Second Serve | 48.80% |
| Break Points Saved | 64.90% |
| Tiebreaks Won | 61.80% |
| Points won in the T Section | 81.60% |
| Points won in the Wide Section | 73.40% |
The vital numbers that can influence Simon's performance
| Player Name | Gilles Simon |
|---|---|
| 1st Serve points Won | 69.30% |
| Service Games Won | 74.50% |
| Return Points Won on Second Serve | 52.70% |
| Break Points Saved | 59.60% |
| Deciding Sets Won | 50% |
| Points won in the T Section | 71.0% |
| Points won in the Wide Section | 65.6% |
While Tsitsipas has aggressive shotmaking as his strength, Simon is a patient player who loves to exploit the chinks in his opponent's armor by playing long rallies. He will have to be at his best to pull off an upset.
Prediction - Stefanos Tsitsipas to win in four sets
Featured Image Credits - The Stats Zone
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