ATP 500 China Open - Roberto Bautista Agut vs Sam Querrey: Preview and Prediction

Roberto Bautista Agut is all set to lock horns with Sam Querrey in the round of 32 at ATP 500 China Open, today. 

Agut reached the semi-finals of the Zhuhai Championships where he lost 6-2 6-2 to the eventual champion, Alex De Minaur. The Spaniard has had a good year so far. He won his sole title winning the Qatar Open.

The Spaniard continued his splendid start to the year by reaching the quarter-finals in the Australian Open. He also reached a couple of quarter-finals in tournaments held in Miami, Lyon, Halle, and Gstaad.

Agut is known as one of the reliable hard-court players, but he stunned everybody after reaching the semi-finals of the Wimbledon losing to the eventual champion, Novak Djokovic in four sets. He has also broken into the top 10 of the world rankings for the first time this year.

The Spaniard continued his good form ahead of the US Open reaching back to back quarter-finals in the Rogers Cup and the Cincinnati Open. Agut was expected to have a deep run in the US Open, but surprisingly lost in the first round to Mikhail Kukushkin in five sets.

Sam Querrey, on the other hand, is playing a competitive tennis match a month after his shocking first-round exit from the US Open where he lost to Juan Ignacio Londero in four sets.

Querrey gave his best performance this year when he finished as the runner-up in the Eastbourne International Open. He lost to his compatriot Taylor Fritz in straight sets in the final.  The American also reached the semi-finals of the New York and Houston Open.

Repetitive injuries and early exits from tournaments continue to affect Querrey. He is placed at the 55th spot now. The American needs a series of good matches to improve his ranking.

Both Agut and Querrey lost in the Round of 32 at the China Open last year and will look to give their best in the tournament this year.

The head to head record is one-sided as Agut has won all the 3 matches played against Querrey. The Spaniard has a mixed 4-4 win-loss record in the China Open and will focus on improving it.

It will be an interesting battle for the fans as Agut's consistent ground-strokes will face off against Querrey's big serve. The American has nothing to lose and will look to pull-off an upset.

Prediction - Sam Querrey to win in three sets

Cover Image Credits - thestatszone.com