2021 US Open First Round – Roberto Bautista Agut vs Nick Kyrgios Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Roberto Bautista Agut vs Nick Kyrgios taking place? Roberto Bautista Agut vs Nick Kyrgios will take place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York, USA
When is Roberto Bautista Agut vs Nick Kyrgios on and what time does it start? Tuesday 31st August, 2021 – not before 01:15 (UK)
What surface is Roberto Bautista Agut vs Nick Kyrgios being played on? Roberto Bautista Agut vs Nick Kyrgios will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Roberto Bautista Agut vs Nick Kyrgios? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Roberto Bautista Agut vs Nick Kyrgios
What channel is Roberto Bautista Agut vs Nick Kyrgios on in the UK? Amazon have exclusive rights to show the 2021 US Open in the UK so it is worth checking the Amazon Prime Video app on smart TVs for Roberto Bautista Agut vs Nick Kyrgios
Where can I stream Roberto Bautista Agut vs Nick Kyrgios in the UK? Amazon Prime subscribers may be able to stream Roberto Bautista Agut vs Nick Kyrgios live via their platform
THE LOWDOWN
ROBERTO BAUTISTA AGUT
33-year-old Roberto Bautista Agut has endured a difficult summer by his high standards and fallen back into the 20s in the ATP world rankings for the first time since July 2019. Five defeats from his last seven matches is poor form for the Spaniard but given a kind opening match at Flushing Meadows he can be backed to recover well on the biggest stage. RBA has made the semi-finals of Wimbledon and the quarter-finals at the Australian Open before but he has never made it past the round of 16 at the US Open.
NICK KYRGIOS
Nick Kyrgios’ ATP world ranking is largely meaningless right now as the Aussie has taken the majority of the pandemic off the tour. He reached the third round of the Australian Open via a five-set epic win over Ugo Humbert and then, remarkably, repeated the feat five months later at Wimbledon where he beat Humbert on five sets in the first round. Injury saw the 26-year-old retire from the third round at SW19 and since then he has struggled for fitness and form on the North American swing. He is a different animal on the biggest stages, though, and will be a threat to anybody in the US Open draw.
THE PREDICTION
This is one of the best draws of the first round of the US Open between two players vastly different in mentality and style. Normally opposites make for great matches and the flashy power game of Nick Kyrgios against Roberto Bautista Agut’s never-say-die attitude should see at least a set go to each player, with five yet again a distinct possibility. The pair share a 1-1 head-to-head record with a teenage Kyrgios beating the Spaniard at the Tokyo Open in 2015 and RBA returning the favour at last season’s ATP Cup, although the Aussie was carrying a slight injury that day. Neither player is coming to Flushing Meadows in their best form, especially Bautista Agut, but the crowd should do their part to drag Kyrgios through here. Take the Aussie to win outright but, considering his recent fitness issues, leave this match out of an accumulator.
