2021 Australian Open First Round – Radu Albot vs Roberto Bautista Agut Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Radu Albot vs Roberto Bautista Agut taking place? Melbourne Park, Melbourne
When is Radu Albot vs Roberto Bautista Agut on and what time does it start? Tuesday 9th February, 2021 – not before 01:15 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Radu Albot vs Roberto Bautista Agut? Click here to reach the official 2021 Australian Open ticket selection
What channel is Radu Albot vs Roberto Bautista Agut on? The 2021 Australian Open will be televised on Eurosport so it is worth checking their schedule for this specific match
Where can I stream Radu Albot vs Roberto Bautista Agut in the UK? Sky customers can stream this match on the Sky Go app. Alternatively, the match can be streamed to subscribers of Eurosport Player, either on the official website or as an add-on to an Amazon Prime subscription
THE LOWDOWN
RADU ALBOT
- 31-year-old Radu Albot ended 2020 in fine form having beaten the first seed at the Sofia Open, Denis Shapovalov, to reach the quarter-finals there.
- The Moldovan has lost both matches played so far in 2021 at the Antalya Open last month and then in Melbourne Park last week but he should amp up for a Grand Slam.
ROBERTO BAUTISTA AGUT
- World number 13 Roberto Bautista Agut was bumped up to first option for Team Spain as Rafael Nadal pulled out and the 31-year-old helped take his country to the semi-finals with a first round win over Alex de Minaur.
- Bautista Agut has excellent Grand Slam pedigree and should be aiming to reach the round of 16 here before being truly tested on court, with a quarter-final loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2019 his best Australian Open showing yet.
THE PREDICTION
It is surprising to find that these tour ever-presents have not faced each other before but Radu Albot will provide a stern back-wall for Roberto Bautista Agut in the early exchanged of their first round match. In the form the Moldovan left last season he might have been able to take a set off the Spaniard but with two losses to his name so far this year it seems that RBA should be able to turn the screw here. Battle-hardened by three tough matches in the ATP Cup, the world number 13 is well capable of resetting for this tournament with a straight-sets win.
