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Karen Khachanov vs Matteo Berrettini Tips - Big Hitting Berrettini to win in four
- Karen Khachanov vs Matteo Berrettini Australian Open 3rd Round Match Prediction
- Berrettini is world ranked no.10 and ninth seed in Melbourne
- Berrettini leads head-to-head with Khachanov 3-0
- Khachanov seeded 19th in Melbourne
- Khachanov is a former world no.8
(Getty Images)
Karen Khachanov vs Matteo Berrettini Tips
It will be a battle of the young giants when 9th seeded Italian Matteo Berrettini takes on Russia’s Karen Khachanov in the third round of the Australian Open on Saturday.
The 6’5” Berrettini is a big fan favorite with his hard-hitting, crowd pleasing style of play. He reached the semifinals at the US Open in 2019, but hasn’t yet enjoyed a good run in Melbourne.
The 6’6” Khachanov is following in the footsteps of fellow giant countrymen Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Marat Safin, and Karen is even bigger and more talented than those two former world no.1’s and slam winners. However, right now Khachanov is being overshadowed by the exploits of another young Russian in Daniil Medvedev.
Matteo Berrettini, unlike Khachanov, isn’t yet jaded and is still brimming with confidence. He may not have the raw talent that the Russian possesses, but what Berrettini does is make the most of the weapons he has – namely a massive serve and a sledgehammer forehand, and that will be enough to get past Khachanov in four close sets.
- Berrettini leads head-to-head with Khachanov 3-0
- Berrettini has dropped one set in his opening two victories
- Khachanov also has lost one set in the opening two rounds
Head to Head
Matteo Berrettini leads his head to head with Karen Khachanov 3-0. All three wins came in 2019; the first was over three sets on an indoors hardcourt in Sofia, and the other two were straight sets wins at grass court events in Stuttgart and Halle, Germany.
Karen Khachanov Form
The 24-year old Karen Khachanov (pronounced Hatchanov) is the 19th seed in Melbourne. Following an incredible 2018 that saw the 21-year old win three events including the Paris Masters and reach a world ranking of 8, Khachanov was rated as a future slam winner. However in the two seasons since, he has failed to fulfill his enormous potential, and has slipped to world no.20.
This year he reached the semifinal of the Melbourne 2 warm up event, only to lose to Italian teenage phenom Yannik Sinner. In his first round match here in Melbourne he was taken to four tough sets by Aleksander Vukic, and then in round 2 had an easier time dispatching Ricardas Berankis 6-2 6-4 6-4.
Matteo Berrettini Form
World no.10 Berrettini chose to play for Italy in the ATP Cup as his Australian Open warm-up, and it proved to be an inspired choice.
The 24-year old Berrettini defeated top-tenners Dominic Thiem, Gael Monfils and Roberto Bautista Agut – all in straight sets to reach the final, where he was beaten by Daniil Medvedev.
Here in Melbourne Berrettini survived a tricky opening round match against Kevin Anderson, winning in straight sets, then eliminated Tomas Machac in four sets in the second round.
Karen Khachanov vs Matteo Berrettini FAQ
When is the Karen Khachanov vs Matteo Berrettini match taking place?
Karen Khachanov vs Matteo Berrettini takes place at 5.00pM AEDT on Saturday, February 13
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Verdict
Barring Khachanov suddenly discovering the same intensity and will to win of Daniil Medvedev, the best he can expect is to take a set off Berrettini on Saturday.
The young Italian will be too powerful and relentless for Khachanov, and I see Berrettini using that serve and that forehand to dominate proceedings, taking him to victory in four hard fought sets.
