Preview: Olympics: Roman Safiullin vs. Carlos Alcaraz-to-head, tournament so far

Sports Mole previews Wednesday’s Olympic Games Tennis third-round match between Roman Safiullin and Carlos Alcaraz, including predictions, head-to-head and their tournament so far.

Roman Safiullin seeks a Paris 2024 Olympics shock win over Carlos Alcaraz when the pair battle in the third round on Wednesday.

Safiullin has already beaten a seeded opponent in Alejandro Tabilo before a recent triumph over Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry to set up a meeting with the favourite for a place in the last eight.

Match preview
© Reuters

Fresh off two straight-set wins over Tabilo and Etcheverry, Safiullin faces the ultimate test on Wednesday against a player who recently clinched the French Open title before following that with a successful Wimbledon title defence.

The 26-year-old is making his Olympic debut and aiming to stun the clear favourite en route to an unanticipated triumph at the sporting event.

The world No. 66 has already beaten higher-ranked opponents in rounds one (No. 20) and two (No. 36) and aims to make it three straight shocks against Alcaraz.

Facing the Spaniard is a different proposition, though, and it remains to be seen if Safiullin’s ambition is a success.

Alcaraz is also competing at the Olympics for the first time, but that inexperience has not stopped the French Open champion from clinching wins in the first two rounds without dropping a set.

The No. 2 seed defeated Hady Habib and Tallon Griezspoor en route to Wednesday’s third match in Paris but seemed to suffer an injury scare in the second set against the Dutchman.

That did not prevent the 21-year-old from clinching the second-set tie-break to seal a 6-1, 7-6(3) success last time out and was back in action in the doubles on Tuesday with Rafael Nadal as both booked a place in the quarter-finals.

Despite whatever physical issues Alcaraz may be experiencing, the French Open and Wimbledon champion is the clear favourite heading into his round three tussle with Safiullin.

A possible match-up with Tommy Paul could follow in the quarter-finals, a rematch of their recent last-eight clash on the lawns of SW19, but the No. 2 seed will be taking his progress one match at a time.

Tournament so far
Roman Safiullin:

First round: vs. Alejandro Tabilo 6-4 6-4
Second round: vs. Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-0 7-6[1]

Carlos Alcaraz:

First round: vs. Hady Habib 6-3 6-1
Second round: vs. Tallon Griekspoor 6-1 7-6[3]

Head To Head
Paris Masters (2023) – Round of 32:Safiullin 6-3 6-4

Wednesday’s round-three match will be the second time Alcaraz will face Safiullin, with the 26-year-old triumphing in their only meeting last year.

The Spaniard’s loss in the Paris Masters was on hard courts, and the 21-year-old seeks to avoid a repeat of that round of 32 straight-set defeat.

Beating Alcaraz in Paris Swas Safiullin’s third triumph over a player ranked in the top 10 — following wins over Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev — and he seeks a fourth on Wednesday.

We say: Alcaraz to win in three sets
While much will depend on Alcaraz’s level after coming through a three-set doubles match and his condition to the seeming injury that troubled him against Griekspoor, the Spaniard should get the better of Safiullin, even if he could be taken to a decider.

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