THE FACTS
When is Alexander Bublik vs Daniil Medvedev taking place? Alexander Bublik vs Daniil Medvedev will take place on Saturday 24th July, 2021 at (not before) 04:30 (UK)
Where is Alexander Bublik vs Daniil Medvedev taking place? Alexander Bublik vs Daniil Medvedev will take place at Ariake Tennis Park in Tokyo
What surface is Alexander Bublik vs Daniil Medvedev played on? Alexander Bublik vs Daniil Medvedev will be played on hard courts
Where can I get tickets for Alexander Bublik vs Daniil Medvedev? There are no tickets for Alexander Bublik vs Daniil Medvedev as Olympic Tennis will take place without spectators.
What TV channel is Alexander Bublik vs Daniil Medvedev on in the UK? Olympic coverage is shared between BBC and Eurosport so it is worth checking their schedules for Alexander Bublik vs Daniil Medvedev
Where can I stream Alexander Bublik vs Daniil Medvedev in the UK? If Alexander Bublik vs Daniil Medvedev is televised on BBC then it can be streamed live on the BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app. If Alexander Bublik vs Daniil Medvedev is televised on Eurosport then subscribers can stream the match live on Eurosport Player
THE PREDICTION
World number two Daniil Medvedev lost in the round of 16 at Wimbledon to an inspired performance by Hubert Hurkacz over two days earlier this month but won his second of two ATP titles this season at the Mallorca Championships the week before. The 25-year-old could have usurped Novak Djokovic as world number one if he had gone all the way and other results went his way but he can at least consolidate his position this week in Tokyo with Rafael Nadal out of the draw. Medvedev also won the ATP Cup at the start of the year with Team Russia and that looks like excellent experience ahead of his first Olympics representing his country, albeit as the ‘Russian Olympic Committee’ or ‘ROC’. World number 40 Alexander Bublik will represent Kazakhstan in what could have been a fiery atmosphere in Tokyo were there any fans allowed in the stadium but this should still be a high-quality encounter. 24-year-old Bublik has reached two finals on hard courts this season and many other quarter-finals in what is shaping up to be his best year on tour to date.
Medvedev has won both of the previous contests between the two with straight-set results in St. Petersburg way back in 2016 and much more recently at Roland-Garros last month. Whilst Bublik is more than capable of taking a set against the Russian here it is likelier that Medvedev doubles down back on his favourite surface to take this in straight sets for a third time. Matches involving Bublik are always wholly unpredictable, though, so you could be forgiven for taking Medvedev as the outright winner here.