Roberto Bautista Agut vs. Andrey Rublev Prediction: Rublev Has a Difficult Opener

On Tuesday, January 3, world number eight Andrey Rublev will face the Spanish challenge of Roberto Bautista Agut, who is ranked 21st in the world, in the first round of the 2023 Adelaide International.

While he was not at his best in 2022, Bautista Agut appeared to have done enough to secure a place in the world's top twenty.

This came after a handful of championship victories, including one in Doha on hardcourt conditions. A semifinal in Basel at the conclusion of the season and a final in Mallorca during the grass swing appeared to be evidence of the pedigree from his past, as Bautista Agut had reached the top 10 of the rankings at one point.

The question is his form against a top-10 caliber opponent like Rublev, and the immediate response is that it's been promising.

His career-high position is number five in the world, and while Rublev did not perform well enough to finish the 2022 season at his personal best, he rose from 11th to eighth.

Rublev will be hoping for a much stronger performance in the Grand Slams this season, after reaching the quarterfinals of both the French Open and the US Open. Then there were four championships in 2022, including a win at the ATP Dubai tournament.

Rublev reached the quarterfinals of the Indian Wells Open before losing to Taylor Fritz, but this was enough to qualify for the ATP Finals.

Rublev is the odds-on favorite at 1/2, but given Bautista Agut's recent form, those odds suggest caution. Expect a three-set match in which Rublev will edge away his opponent.