Grigor Dimitrov vs Feliciano Lopez: Ultimate Tennis Showdown 2 Preview and Prediction

With professional tennis yet to resume due to the pandemic, the Ultimate Tennis Showdown has continued to entertain fans with star players in action. After the enormous success of Part 1 edition which crowned Matteo Berrettini as the champion, we have another set of mouthwatering encounters.

It is a clash between two good friends and intense competitors tonight. Grigor Dimitrov did not have a good start to his campaign after a crushing 4-0 defeat against Richard Gasquet yesterday.

Playing his first event after recovering from COVID-19, the Bulgarian could muster a dismal first-serve percentage of 54. A rustiness in his form was visible as he hit 21 unforced errors.

On the other hand, Feliciano Lopez had a sublime beginning with a comprehensive 3-1 win over youngster, Alexei Popyrin. 

After the first two quarters were split between the players, the Spaniard showed his class pocketing the next two quarters claiming a hard-fought victory. Despite a lowly first-serve percentage of 51, the World number 56 controlled the match hitting 18 winners. 

Strengths of Dimitrov

Splendid court coverage, ability to convert defense into attack, and a brutal single-handed backhand are Dimitrov's biggest positives. His game would look more lethal if he controls the power of his forehand. 

Strengths of Lopez

Lopez has the ability to rack up points quickly with his big serve. His other weapons include smart net-play and tricky backhand slices. His forehand is technically stronger than Dimitrov's. The Spaniard must watch out for his shot-selection though. 

Having played UTS before, Lopez would have excellent knowledge of the conditions. Dimitrov would be aiming to get good match practice ahead of his return to the competitive tour. The World number 19 would have to adapt to the fast gameplay by using his Serve and Volley cards to perfection. 

Head to Head Record

The two players have had a close rivalry since 2010. Dimitrov leads the head to head record with four wins and two losses. 

Prediction - Feliciano Lopez to win in five quarters

Featured image credits: oddspedia.com