Robin Haase vs Bautista Agut Tennis Prediction
Robin Haase is extremely fortunate to be in the round of 16 as his first round opponent Joao Sousa wasted three match points (on serve) in the second set and threw away a 3-4* lead in the deciding set before going down 4-6 7-5 6-4.
Last week in Hertogenbosch, the Dutchman won a hard-fought first-round encounter against Ivo Karlovic in three sets but lost his second round match to Bernard Tomic in straight sets. He will now be hoping to avoid a similar fate when he takes on Roberto Bautista Agut in the second round (R16) on Wednesday.
In his previous eight appearances at Halle, Robin Haase has played two round of 16 matches with the only win coming against Dominic Thiem in 2017.
Playing his first match on grass this season, Roberto Bautista Agut cruised to a comfortable straight set win over Jan Lennard Struff on Monday, 6-4 6-1.
The Spaniard needs one more win to defend the quarterfinal points that he earned here last season. Making his Halle debut in 2017, Bautista Agut defeated Carlos Berlocq (R1) and Dustin Brown (R16) in three sets before losing out to Alexander Zverev (QF) in three sets.
Though grass is the former world #13 Bautista Agut’s least preferred surface (28/15), he has proven his ability to deliver results on this surface by winning the Hertogenbosch title in 2014. Apart from that, he also made three quarterfinal appearances at Halle 2017, London (Queen’s Club) 2016 and Hertogenbosch 2013.
Roberto Bautista Agut fought back from a set down to win their recent meeting at Auckland (SF) to open up a 2-1 lead in the H2H. Though the Spaniard is far more solid and reliable, Robin Haase should be able to offer a stern challenge on grass.
Tennis Prediction: Bautista Agut
Odds: 1.50
