In the men’s ATP 250 tournament in Auckland, New Zealand around 04:30 there will be an interesting and balanced match in the first round between Russian Karen Khachanov, 45th ATP and Japanese Yuichi Sugita, 40th in the same ranking. This game will be the 3rd meeting between the two protagonists, the score being 1-1, but the most recent meeting was held 1 week ago in the Hopman Cup, where Russian Khachanov imposed itself quite clearly, 6 -4 6-2. The forecast for the Auckland game will be the victory of the same Karen Khachanov, being in pretty good shape at the moment, and the Japanese will find it hard to offer a game so competitive to be able to defeat the Russian. Khachanov creates a considerable advantage with the forehand blow, the blow with which Russian players have been among the most renowned men in the circuit over time. Although Japanese Sugita is quite competitive in the games against players around the 50-100 Top, with a constant play behind the bottom line, both on the forehand side and backhand, this game will be very difficult to rise to the level of Russian Khachanov.

Prediction:Karen Khachanov win @ 1.57