The ATP 250 event in Almaty is heating up as we move into the 1/16-finals, featuring some intriguing matchups. Among the notable contests, Jan-Lennard Struff will face Mackenzie McDonald, with the match time still to be announced. Their head-to-head record stands at 1-0 in favor of Struff, although recent form suggests a different narrative. Struff has faced challenges lately, losing three of his last five matches, including a first-round upset in Roanne against Sakellaridis. This marks Struff’s debut in Almaty, where he previously competed in Vienna last season but exited early against de Minaur.
On the other hand, Mackenzie McDonald is entering the tournament on a high note, having won four of his last five matches, including a strong showing at a Challenger tournament in Jinan, where he finished as the runner-up to Cazaux. McDonald’s aim this week is to secure a robust performance to solidify his standing within the top 100 players.
As for betting insights, bookmakers have made Struff the slight favorite, but the expectation is leaning towards McDonald. His recent performance and ability to thrive on hard courts position him as a formidable opponent, especially after Struff’s struggles against lower-ranked players. A recommended bet is on McDonald to cover a games handicap of +2.5 at odds of 1.80.
In another match, Brandon Nakashima will take on Hamad Medjedovic, with their head-to-head record currently at 0-1 in favor of Medjedovic. Nakashima has lost three of his last five matches, including a straight-set defeat in Shanghai last week. This will be his first appearance in Almaty. Medjedovic, meanwhile, has struggled even more, losing four of his last five and retiring mid-match previously against Rinderknech. He returns to Almaty for the third time, having reached the semifinals in 2023.
Bookmakers see this matchup as nearly even, but given Medjedovic’s past successes under similar conditions, particularly his win over Nakashima in Belgrade, he is expected to rediscover his winning form. A suggested value bet is for Medjedovic to win at odds of 2.10.
Finally, Aleksandar Vukic will meet Marko Topo, in their first professional encounter. Vukic has not fared well recently, losing three out of five matches, including an early exit in Shanghai against Borges. Conversely, Topo has won four of his last five matches and qualified for the main draw in Almaty after a tense finish against Droguet.
Although bookmakers have marked Topo as the underdog, Vukic’s battle-hardened experience at the Challenger level is expected to keep the match competitive. A good value bet can be found on Topo to cover the games handicap at +2.5, offering odds of 2.10.
With exciting matches lined up, players are eager to prove themselves, making this ATP 250 event a thrilling spectacle for tennis enthusiasts.