Tsitsipas vs Kukushkin Prediction 21 October 2026
🔊 In the second round of the ATP 250 in Almaty, two legends meet: one of world tennis, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and one of local standing, Mikhail Kukushkin. The tournament is played on a fast indoor hard court, which may favour the more powerful and younger Greek. That said, the 38-year-old Kukushkin has already beaten a compatriot of Tsitsipas - not as high-profile, but even younger. Let's assess the Kazakhstani's chances of pulling off an upset against the more decorated former world No. 3.
Head-to-Head
📊 Stefanos Tsitsipas holds the head-to-head advantage, having won all five previous meetings against Mikhail Kukushkin. Notably, none of those matches ended in fewer than 19 games.
Head-to-head statistics Tsitsipas - Kukushkin
Stefanos Tsitsipas Player Overview
Stefanos Tsitsipas arrives in the second round in excellent form, having won eight of his last ten matches. He came through his opening match against Aleksandar Kovacevic with some difficulty (7-6, 3-6, 6-3), though before that he beat Taylor Fritz in Shanghai (3-6, 7-5, 6-3), reaching the second week of the Masters 1000 event. Over this period Tsitsipas has won 68% of sets and 55% of sets. On serve he has been highly reliable, holding 85% of his service games, with a first-serve percentage of 67%. This level of consistency tends to see him past lower-ranked opponents without too many complications.
Match Results: Stefanos Tsitsipas
Mikhail Kukushkin Player Overview
Mikhail Kukushkin has not been in consistent form: just four wins from his last ten matches, with five of those defeats coming by a 0-2 scoreline over a period stretching across six months, as the 38-year-old Kazakhstani had not appeared on tour since June. Mikhail has officially announced that this tournament will be the last of his career, so his first-round win over Stefanos Sakellaridis (7-6, 7-6) can already be considered a fitting farewell to the home crowd. That said, against a Tsitsipas who is well-balanced in both attack and defence, Kukushkin - with a hold percentage of just 62% - will find it difficult to avoid a heavy defeat.
Match Results: Mikhail Kukushkin
Key factors
- Stefanos Tsitsipas has won all five of their head-to-head meetings against Mikhail Kukushkin.
- Tsitsipas has won eight of his last ten matches; Kukushkin has won only four since April.
- Tsitsipas has won 68% of sets and 55% of games over his last ten matches.
- Kukushkin has lost five of his last ten matches without winning a set.
Expected scenario
Stefanos Tsitsipas looks in control here: his current form, serving quality and positive head-to-head record against Kukushkin all point towards a quick two-set win with little resistance from the home favourite. A deciding set seems unlikely, and the gap in key statistics supports a scenario closer to a one-sided result.
⭐ Editor's Pick
Stefanos Tsitsipas is in significantly better form than his opponent: a high rate of points won on serve, consistency across sets, and a run of confident wins including notable upsets on the Asian swing all support his status as the clear favourite. Mikhail Kukushkin, even before his extended absence from the tour, regularly lost without much resistance to players of a lower level, which further reduces the likelihood of a prolonged match. Given all that, it will be difficult for the Kazakhstani to count on another upset or even to take a set. That said, there is little doubt his fans will give him a warm send-off. The pick is Tsitsipas to win, Correct Score - 2-0.
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Betting Tips: Stefanos Tsitsipas - Mikhail Kukushkin
in last 5 matches against Mikhail Kukushkin.
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in last 5 matches against Stefanos Tsitsipas.Other predictions
