This preview has expired.

See all our latest betting tips or suggested betting sites

Saturday 11
Sunday 12
Monday 13
Tuesday 14
Wednesday 15
Thursday 16
Friday 17
Saturday 18
Sunday 19
Monday 20
Tuesday 21

Alex Michelsen vs Alexei Popyrin Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Popyrin without back-to-back wins since August

Andrew Hendrie

Editor

Last updated: Thu 02 Apr 2026 05:40

Andrew Hendrie 02 Apr 2026

Share this article

Alex Michelsen vs Alexei Popyrin predictions for Thursday's ATP Houston R2 match
Popyrin remains in poor form with just two top 100 wins since August
Michelsen in strong form with seven wins from last nine matches (losses vs Medvedev & Sinner)
The match is scheduled to start around 11.30am AEDT on Friday April 3

Expired

Alex Michelsen (Photo by Getty Images)

Alex Michelsen vs Alexei Popyrin Tips, Prediction & Live Stream

Alex Michelsen targets back-to-back Houston Open quarter-finals when he comes up against the struggling Alexei Popyrin on Thursday night.

Alex Michelsen vs Alexei Popyrin Tips, Prediction & Live Stream
Michelsen vs Popyrin Stats & Trends
Michelsen vs Popyrin Head To Head
Alex Michelsen Form Analysis
Alexei Popyrin Form Analysis
Michelsen vs Popyrin Live Stream

Michelsen has been in superb form over the last month and would be highly confident of taking down a player who has barely won matches since August.

Indeed, Michelsen made both the R16 at Indian Wells and Miami, while he's lost to the eventual winner or finalist in his last three tournaments. Summary: it's taking the very best to beat him at the moment.

Popyrin can't be classified as anywhere close to the 'very best' right now. The Aussie is a dire 2-16 vs top 100 players since August, but he did claim a narrow three-set win over Patrick Kypson in his Houston debut in the previous round.

Still, that's nowhere near enough of a sample size to say Popyrin is ready to challenge a player of Michelsen's calibre. Yes, the American doesn't have much experience on clay, but he did win a Challenger title in Portugal last year and had made the quarter-finals in Houston before. A year on in his development and the 21-year-old should be too good for this version of Popyrin.

Michelsen vs Popyrin Stats & Trends

Popyrin is 2-8 vs top 100 players in 2026
Popyrin is 2-16 vs top 100 players since August 2025
Popyrin has seen Under 22.5 games in five of his last seven matches vs top 100 players
Michelsen has won seven of his last nine matches
It's taken the eventual winner or finalist to beat Michelsen in his last three tournaments

Michelsen vs Popyrin Head To Head

This will be the first career meeting between the pair.

Alex Michelsen Form Analysis

2026 Record: 13-7
ATP Houston Record: 3-2
Current Ranking: No. 35
Career-High Ranking: No. 30 (July 2025)

Still just 21 years of age, I feel Michelsen sometimes gets left behind when talking about the brightest young talents in the game - but if he keeps improving on his current form, it should only be a matter of time before he breaks into the top 30 and beyond.

Michelsen launched the year with a semi-final in Brisbane and has raised his level since returning to the United States.

It's taken eventual champions or finalists to beat Michelsen in his last three tournaments - he went down to Seb Korda in Delray Beach before back-to-back fourth round defeats to Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner in Indian Wells and Miami.

After making the last eight in Houston in 2025, Michelsen opened his account with a 6-4 6-2 win over Colemon Wong.

"It was a really tough match," Michelsen said. "It's a first match on clay for everybody, so just kind of getting the feet wet a little bit. I got a little lucky to win the first set and I felt pretty good in the second."

Alexei Popyrin Form Analysis

2026 Record: 3-8
ATP Houston Record: 1-0
Current Ranking: No. 45
Career-High Ranking: No. 19 (August 2025)

Popyrin remains inside the top 50, but that standing is becoming increasingly difficult to justify given his recent form. Since August, he has managed just two wins over a top 100 opponent.

Without a turnaround during the clay swing, a slide down the rankings looks inevitable. He has significant points to defend from a Monte Carlo quarter-final and a fourth-round run at Roland Garros, which only adds to the pressure.

On court, his level has dipped sharply. His lone top-100 victory in that stretch came against Kamil Majchrzak in Dubai and he has since suffered straight-sets defeats to Jakub Mensik, Jenson Brooksby and Marin Cilic.

However, it would be just like Popyrin to randomly come from nowhere to win a title this week. The Aussie fought well in his opening match, coming from behind to outlast World No. 96 Patrick Kypson 4-6 6-4 6-3.

Michelsen vs Popyrin Live Stream

Watch and bet on Alex Michelsen vs Alexei Popyrin live tennis from Houston.

You can watch and bet on the match live at Unibet > Tennis > ATP Houston with the action available to stream on desktop and mobile.

Geo-restrictions apply, you'll need a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours to gain access. 18+ terms and conditions apply.

Verdict

Alex Michelsen v Alexei Popyrin

Popyrin is capable, but can't be backed on current form. Michelsen is playing very well at the moment and is backed to cover with Under 22.5 games.

Michelsen -2.5

Games Line

$1.95 - 1 Unit

Download the dabble app

with referral code BETSAU

Download the dabble app, enter referral code BETSAU to enjoy Dabble, the betting app with a difference! Bet as normal with & also be part of Australia's betting community where you can follow punters and sports stars, copy their bets, have banter with your mates & watch Sky Racing channels. 18+. T&Cs apply. What are you prepared to lose today? Set a deposit limit.

Bet at dabble

Under 22.5

Total Games

$1.90 - 1 Unit

Challenger 'NextBet' is here

18+. T&Cs apply

Bet at NextBet