Australian Open 2021: Tommy Paul vs Nikoloz Basilashvili preview, head-to-head & prediction

Match details

Fixture: Tommy Paul vs Nikoloz Basilashvili

Date: 8 February 2021

Tournament: Australian Open 2021

Round: First round (Round of 128)

Venue: Melbourne, Australia

Category: Grand Slam

Surface: Outdoor hardcourt

Prize money: AUD $80 million

Match timing: Approx. 4 pm local time, 10.30 am IST

Live telecast: USA - ESPN / Tennis Channel | India - Sony Six

Tommy Paul vs Nikoloz Basilashvili preview

Tommy Paul is all set to open his 2021 Australian Open campaign with a first-round encounter against Georgia's Nikoloz Basilashvili on Tuesday.

Paul, who reached the third round of the tournament last year after scoring an upset win over Grigor Dimitrov, will be keen to back up his strong showing.

Nikoloz Basilashvili

Basilashvili meanwhile has been around the tour for quite some time, and will not be a pushover by any means. He plays an aggressive brand of tennis, which is well-suited to the surface here.

That said, the Georgian hasn't been playing his best tennis in recent months. The 28-year-old failed to progress past the first round in 11 of the 12 tournaments he played in 2020, and correspondingly slid down the rankings.

He has made a better start to the new season, but Basilashvili still needs to work on cutting down his unforced error count.

Tommy Paul vs Nikoloz Basilashvili head-to-head

Tommy Paul will be a slight favorite in this match-up

Tommy Paul and Nikoloz Basilashvili have never crossed paths on the tour before, so their current head-to-head stands at a 0-0 deadlock.

Tommy Paul vs Nikoloz Basilashvili prediction

Tommy Paul enters this contest as a slight favorite. While he is the lesser experienced of the two players, the American has been the better performer in recent times.

Nikoloz Basilashvili is perfectly capable of imposing himself in a match, but his hot and cold temperament has often stopped him from being truly effective at the highest level.

The Georgian will have to raise his game quite significantly to stand a chance, which is why an upset looks unlikely.

Prediction: Tommy Paul to win in straight sets.