Shanghai Masters 2024: Grigor Dimitrov vs Alexei Popyrin preview, head-to-head, prediction, and pick

Match Details

Fixture: (9) Grigor Dimitrov vs (20) Alexei Popyrin

Date: 8 October 2024

Tournament: Shanghai Masters 2024

Round: Third Round (Round of 32)

Venue: Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena in Shanghai, China

Category: ATP 1000

Surface: Hardcourt

Prize Money: $8,800,000

Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | India - Sony Sports Network | Canada - TSN

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Grigor Dimitrov vs Alexei Popyrin preview

Grigor Dimitrov (Getty)

The third round of the 2024 Shanghai Masters will feature an intriguing clash between 9th-seeded Grigor Dimitrov and 20th-seeded Alexei Popyrin. The Bulgarian has a 39-14 record in 2024 winning one title. He entered the Shanghai Masters after playing the Laver Cup where he represented Team Europe, winning his only singles match against Alejandro Tabilo 7-6(4), 7-6(2).

Hard courts have been the most successful surface for the World No. 10 this season. He started the year winning the title in Brisbane, overcoming Holger Rune in the final 7-6(5), 6-4. He reached two more hard-court finals in Marseille (lost to Ugo Humbert) and Miami (lost to Jannik Sinner). At the Shanghai Masters, the ninth seed started his campaign with an opening round bye and then registered a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 win over Zizou Bergs in the second round.

Alexei Popyrin has won 26 of the 45 matches he played in 2024. The Australian won the most impressive title of his career, thus far, the Canadian Open where he defeated Andrey Rublev in the final 6-2, 6-4. He came to Shanghai on the back of a first-round loss at the Japan Open, losing to Tomas Machac 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-5.

Aside from the triumph in Canada, Popyrin has had other good results on hard courts. He reached the semifinal of the Qatar Open, losing to Karen Khachanov 6-7(12), 2-6. The Australian also had a decent fourth-round run at the US Open, which included a four-set victory over Novak Djokovic. The 20th seed opened his campaign in Shanghai with a commanding 6-3, 6-2 win over Miomir Kecmanovic.

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Grigor Dimitrov vs Alexei Popyrin head-to-head

Alexei Popyrin has a 2-1 lead over Grigor Dimitrov in the head-to-head. The Australian defeated the Bulgarian in their last meeting at this year's Canadian Open, with the former winning 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 in a Round of 16 clash.

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Grigor Dimitrov vs Alexei Popyrin odds

Player Name	Moneyline	Handicap Bets	Total Games
Grigor Dimitrov	TBD	TBD	TBD
Alexei Popyrin	TBD	TBD	TBD

(Odds will be updated once available)

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Grigor Dimitrov vs Alexei Popyrin prediction

In the last match between Dimitrov and Popyrin in Canada, the Australian won 80 percent of the first serve and 50 percent of the second serve points, while hitting 24 winners. The Bulgarian had a 79 percent win rate (first serve), and 51 percent win rate (second serve), while hitting 31 winners.

The key point of difference in the match was the break-point conversion of both players. Popyrin saved eight out of nine break points on his serve and grabbed the one break point opportunity he received on Dimitrov's serve.

Dimitrov is the higher-ranked player, but Popyrin has shown better form on hard courts this season. The head-to-head also gives the Australian a slight advantage in the match.

Pick- Alexei Popyrin to win in three sets.