Nur Sultan 2020: Frances Tiafoe vs Corentin Moutet preview, head-to-head & prediction | Astana Open

Match details

Fixture: Frances Tiafoe vs Corentin Moutet

Date: 26 October 2020

Tournament: Astana Open 2020

Round: First round (Round of 32)

Venue: Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan

Category: ATP 250

Surface: Indoor hardcourt

Prize money: $273,345

Match timing: 6 pm ALMT, 5.30 pm IST

Live telecast: USA - ESPN / Tennis Channel

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Frances Tiafoe vs Corentin Moutet preview

Having registered a big scalp in the form of sixth seed Dusan Lajovic at the European Open, Frances Tiafoe will be high on confidence heading into his Astana Open first-round match against Corentin Moutet.

The American player did suffer a straight-sets loss to Dan Evans in the second round at Antwerp. However, he looked in far better touch at the tournament overall than he did on European clay.

Tiafoe had a good American swing two months ago, making it to the fourth round of US Open 2020. However, the next few weeks were not too fruitful for the Hyattsville native.

He crashed out of the French Open as well as the Forte Village Sardegna Open in the first round itself. His Sardinia conqueror, Corentin Moutet, will cross paths with him again in the opening round of the ATP 250 event at Nur-Sultan.

Corentin Moutet lost in the first round of the European Open to Lloyd Harris

Corentin Moutet meanwhile has been fairly inconsistent on the ATP tour this year. The Frenchman has a win-loss record of 9-8 in 2020, and hasn't gone deep at any event.

The World No. 74 made a third-round appearance at the US Open, but he failed to qualify for the main draw of the Rome Masters. Lorenzo Gustino then defeated him in a grueling five-set match in the first round of Roland Garros.

Playing his first European indoor hard-court tourney of 2020 last week, Moutet suffered a 7-5, 6-2 loss to Lloyd Harris in the first round. He does not have much momentum on his side heading into the match against Frances Tiafoe.

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Frances Tiafoe vs Corentin Moutet head-to-head

Corentin Moutet leads Frances Tiafoe 1-0 in the head-to-head record. Their only meeting took place in Sardinia two weeks ago, where the French player emerged victorious 7-6, 6-4.

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Frances Tiafoe vs Corentin Moutet prediction

Frances Tiafoe

Although Corentin Moutet defeated Frances Tiafoe recently, the American player is far more comfortable on faster surfaces. Moutet saved eight break points during that contest in Italy, which might be harder to do on the hardcourts of Kazakhstan.

Tiafoe's serve and forehand are his strong points. He had an excellent win rate of 82% on the first serve against Lajovic in Antwerp, losing his serve just once all match.

The American's aggressive playing style will likely earn him a win in the first round of the Astana Open.

Prediction: Frances Tiafoe to win in straight sets.