Rublev vs Safiullin Prediction 3 October 2026
🔊 A Russian derby between Andrey Rublev and Roman Safiullin is on the cards in Beijing. Safiullin has matched his best result at this venue by reaching the second round, and will leave the Chinese capital with ranking points regardless of what happens next. Rublev needs one more win to match his career-best result here. An added layer of intrigue comes from the fact that the higher-ranked compatriot has yet to beat his opponent in their head-to-head. Whether Andrey can get off the mark against him makes this match all the more interesting.
Head-to-Head
📊 The two players met for the first time this summer in the first round of Wimbledon, where Roman Safiullin won a dramatic five-set match.
Andrey Rublev Player Overview
Former world number five Andrey Rublev had a modest summer hard-court swing, finishing it with a negative record (2-3). He entered the Asian swing outside the top 20 but reached the final of the ATP 250 in Hangzhou, where he lost to Daniil Medvedev. Rublev had just one full day's rest, which he spent travelling to Beijing, where he came through a tough first-round match against Tallon Griekspoor (6-4, 5-7, 7-6). Rublev plays an uncompromising attacking game with little regard for defence. He rarely uses defensive slices or drop shots, preferring to hit flat through rallies and keep constant pressure on his opponents, including on serve.
Match Results: Andrey Rublev
Roman Safiullin Player Overview
Roman Safiullin spent a long time away from the tour through injury and only returned properly at last Wimbledon, where he unexpectedly reached the second week. His best result on the summer hard-court swing was a quarter-final at the Cancún Challenger, but his form picked up again in the autumn. He arrived in Beijing straight from the Hangzhou semi-final, having been granted a direct main-draw entry by the organisers as an exception, despite originally being due to start in qualifying. In the first round he produced an upset, beating 4th seed Flavio Cobolli 6-3, 6-2. Safiullin's style can be described as controlled aggression - unlike Rublev, his game includes pace-reducing shots alongside a powerful serve.
Match Results: Roman Safiullin
Key factors
- Both players favour an attacking style, but Rublev is the more aggressive of the two.
- Both have had strong tournaments in Hangzhou, reaching the last two stages.
- Safiullin had a more comfortable first-round win, though he faced stronger opposition.
Expected scenario
As the favourite, Andrey Rublev will likely try to seize control from the outset, looking to overwhelm Roman Safuillin with his trademark baseline firepower and push the pace to the limit. However, Safuillin, with his sharp timing and positioning, is unlikely to sit deep behind the baseline - instead he may take the ball early and redirect Rublev's aggressive attacks with sharp backhand passes down the line.
⭐ Editor's Pick
The key factor in this match will be whether Roman Safiullin, who is in excellent form, can disrupt the rhythm set by Andrey Rublev. Through well-timed slice shots and net approaches, Safiullin may be able to unsettle Rublev, who can at times be emotionally volatile. Rublev, worn down by a tough three-setter in the first round, will look to finish rallies as quickly and directly as possible.
The outcome of this tactical contest will hinge on whether the lower-ranked Russian's composure can hold up against the favourite's relentless power. That said, Safiullin is not short of confidence, particularly after his upset win over Cobolli. Another marathon between these two seems likely, as was the case a few months ago on the London grass. The pick is Total Games - Over 24.5.
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Betting Tips: Andrey Rublev - Roman Safiullin
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