Alexei Popyrin vs Sebastian Korda Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Korda to edge returning Popyrin in Stockholm

Both of these players have been affected by injuries in 2025, contributing to a dip in ranking. Popyrin has managed to stabilise his ranking at No. 40, but Korda has slipped to outside the top 60 after cracking the world's top 15 last year. Popyrin did a decent job of defending his Canada Masters title, reaching the quarter-finals, but he was unlucky to run into Jannik Sinner in the second round of the US Open and he decided to skip the entire Asian swing in order to recover from some niggling injuries that have been plaguing him all year. Korda meanwhile is continuing his own comeback from elbow surgery and a recent stress fracture in his shin.

It's a tough match to predict with uncertainty surrounding both players. However, Korda has got some recent matches under his belt and it's taken good performances to beat him lately (Taylor Fritz in Tokyo and Zizou Bergs in Shanghai, who went on to reach the quarters). I think Korda edges an underdone Popyrin on these quick indoor courts.

Currently level at 1-1 at tour-level. Korda prevailed 7-6(5) 6-7(4) 6-4 in R1 of Almaty 2023 before Popyrin got the job done 7-6 6-3 in the semi-finals of his triumphant 2024 Canada Masters campaign.

It's been a tough season for Popyrin - he comes into this clash with a negative 17-19 record and down at No. 40 in the world.

In saying that, Popyrin has shown glimpses of his best tennis that have enabled him to remain in the top 50, namely making quarter-finals at Masters 1000 events in Monte Carlo and Canada, while he also made the fourth round of Roland Garros.

But, overall, it's been a disappointing season for Popyrin, who had a great opportunity to crack the top 20 during the first half of 2025 before his Canada Masters title points dropped off.

Popyrin was last seen going down in the second round of the US Open to Sinner before skipping the Asian swing due to injury. He will be making his first appearance in Stockholm since 2019.

Korda has endured another injury-interrupted season, coming into this contest with a 17-14 record and falling to No. 63 in the world after peaking at No. 15 last year.

It was a promising start to the season for Korda - he made the final in Adelaide and the quarter-finals in Miami, but there's been little to cheer about since.

The American missed Wimbledon due to a shin stress fracture and it also affected his summer in the USA, withdrawing in Winston Salem and retiring in the first round of the US Open.

However, Korda played a full Asian swing, making the second round in Hangzhou and the quarter-finals in Tokyo before going down in his Shanghai opener. Korda will be making his Stockholm debut here.