2021 Australian Open First Round – Ilya Ivashka vs Roman Safiullin Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Ilya Ivashka vs Roman Safiullin taking place? Melbourne Park, Melbourne
When is Ilya Ivashka vs Roman Safiullin on and what time does it start? Tuesday 9th February, 2021 – not before 04:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Ilya Ivashka vs Roman Safiullin? Click here to reach the official 2021 Australian Open ticket selection
What channel is Ilya Ivashka vs Roman Safiullin 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 Ilya Ivashka vs Roman Safiullin 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 PREDICTION
26-year-old Ilya Ivashka won a Challenger event in Italy last November to end his 2020 season and will play his first match of the year over two months later in this first round meeting with Roman Safiullin. 23-year-old Safiullin has at least played a match in 2021 but lost in the first round of the Great Ocean Road Open last week to Sergiy Stakhovsky. The Russian did, however, come through the qualifying rounds in Melbourne last month in good form and match practice could be the difference-maker in this first round meeting. In normal service Belarus’ Ivashka is the better player and could well take a set or two here but both players to take a set in a Safiullin win seems the more reasonable outcome.
