Roman Safiullin vs Novak Djokovic prediction, H2H & betting tips 9 October 2024
Roman Safiullin
Novak Djokovic
In the fourth round of the prestigious Shanghai Masters, Roman Safiullin will take on Novak Djokovic. Dailysports analysts have shared their prediction for this match.
Roman Safiullin
The 27-year-old Russian player is considered a solid middle-tier competitor, currently ranked 61st in the world. While Safiullin has had a respectable career, he has yet to make a significant breakthrough on the global stage.
This year, he won a Challenger tournament in the U.S., but nothing beyond that stands out. In Shanghai, Safiullin has already defeated three opponents: Denis Yevseyev (7-6, 6-4), Alexander Bublik (6-4, 6-2), and Frances Tiafoe in a hard-fought match, coming back from a set and a break down to win 5-7, 7-5, 7-6.
Novak Djokovic
Djokovic, a living legend of the sport, has won just one major title this year but it was the one that mattered most to him—an Olympic gold, completing his collection of top honors. At 37 years old, Djokovic is still capable of playing at a high level, though younger stars like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are challenging his dominance.
Currently ranked No. 4 in the world, Djokovic has little left to prove, having set records for most Grand Slam titles and many other achievements. In Shanghai, Djokovic has been solid, overcoming a tough challenge from Ben Shelton (7-6, 7-6) before comfortably defeating Italian Matteo Arnaldi (6-1, 6-2) in the third round.
Match Facts
- Safiullin has won 18 of 32 hard-court matches this season.
- Djokovic has played 16 matches on hard courts this year, winning 12.
- Betting odds for the match: Safiullin win (8.00), Djokovic win (1.07).
Head-to-Head
The players have met twice, with Djokovic winning both encounters. Their last meeting was earlier this year on the clay courts in Monte Carlo, where Djokovic won convincingly 6-1, 6-2.
Prediction
There's no need to look at the betting lines to understand that Djokovic is the overwhelming favorite. As one of the greatest players of all time, Djokovic is still capable of producing world-class tennis. However, Safiullin is a strong competitor and could make this match challenging for the Serbian legend. Djokovic may face some resistance, so a bet on total games over 19.5 seems like a smart choice.
