Aslan Karatsev vs Mikael Ymer Prediction: a Confident Win for Aslan

In the last 32 of the Washington tournament, No. 36 Aslan Karatsev will meet with No. 115 of the ATP ranking, Mikael Ymer. The players have not encountered each other in the tour, and bookmakers consider Aslan to be the favorite.

Karatsev finished the clay part of the season poorly. If in Bastad and Hamburg he won two matches, losing twice to Cerundolo, in Kitzbühel No. 36 gave the first two-sets match to Dusan Lajovic. The upcoming one will be the opener for Karatsev on the hard court for a long time. Karatsev has had 15 games on such a surface in the 2022 season, winning eight and failing seven. In 2021 Aslan played 37 times on the hard court: 26-11 in favor of Karatsev.

Unlike Karatsev, Imer had one match in Washington, knocking out once No.1 Andy Murray. The match turned out to be a three-set, rather long one. The Swede won the first set on a tiebreak 10-8, the second he gave up 4-6, and in the third set Andy, one may say, aborted middeal. Then Ymer let Murray win one game. Overall, Mikael made five aces and six double faults, won 75% of his points on first serve and only 33% on second. On the receiving end, Mikael's stats were 35%/59%.

There is a feeling that Karatsev, like Rublev, was waiting for a return to the hard court. Recall that Andrey Rublev, despite playing his first match on hard, easily defeated Draper. We think Aslan will knock out the Swede today and make it to the last 16 in Washington. Also, we wouldn't be surprised if he wins in a two-set match. 

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