Sebastian Ofner - Roberto Bautista Agut predictions and free betting tips [05/01/2024]

We're contemplating again about the quarter-finals of the competition in Hong Kong, where at this moment 6 contenders are known for advancing to the next round. Sebastian Ofner didn't make a sensation in his previous match with Jan-Lennard Struff, he simply demonstrated what he is capable of. Roberto Bautista-Agut, as we know, is a prime aficionado of ATP 250 tournaments, which he always intensively prepares for, to stake a claim for the title. The Spaniard is here for the award as well.

Sebastian Ofner

The Austrian is pleasing, showing tennis of a higher level than at the beginning of the previous season when his surname was associated exclusively with Challengers.

Current Ofner's playing is suitable for aspiring to "main" titles and it's evident that he wants to achieve a more significant award because the level of "lower level tournaments" is passed by him. This is talked about by the finals of Challengers, on the most varied surfaces played by Sebastian last year, so now it's time to strive for something new, for example, the trophy in an ATP 250 competition.

In Hong Kong, the Austrian had two dissimilar matches. With the American Mckenzie McDonald, Ofner didn't have to put in much effort, yet the game with Jan-Lennard Struff, which was an equal, compensated for it. Yet, upon detailed evaluation, of course, Sebastian showcased more reliable tennis, for instance, in the games on his serve, allowing the opponent only 6 break-points, while Ofner had twice as many himself.

Sebastian is well prepared for the new season even though he awaits many difficult competitions ahead, as he now won't go to Challengers when his ranking position allows him to attend "main" tournaments. Sebastian Ofner's quarter-finals match in Hong Kong(250) will be against the sage Spaniard Roberto Bautista-Agut. The basic technical elements should work perfectly for Sebastian, but the main thing is how the Austrian tennis player will appear in the rallies because Roberto's main trump card has always been the ability to keep the ball in play and wisely translate it into attacking crosses.

Roberto Bautista-Agut

The Spaniard is no longer as self-assured as before, nonetheless, his physical form allows him to play in big competitions and somewhere even stake a claim for trophies.

Last season, Bautista-Agut was virtually unnoticed, as he played little, and if he went somewhere, he often was unsuccessful. Despite a plethora of failures, in 2023, Roberto had two finals: in a hardcourt tournament in Adelaide(2) and on a clay challenger in Valencia. The semi-final of the grass-court in Halle(500) can be included in this too. Had he managed to win at least one trophy, surely this season wouldn't have turned out to be such a failure for the Spaniard.

In Hong Kong, the Spaniard had two matches at his level, but the opponents were not too challenging. With the same Cherundolo there may have been minor difficulties, but Bautista-Agut solved them and Fabian Marozsan was good only at the beginning of the 2nd set. In the quarter-final with Ofner, the Spanish tennis player should show his skills in controlling the ball in play and demonstrating smart attacks when the cross lands in the right spot, causing inconvenience for the opponent's handling.

Match prediction: Sebastian Ofner - Roberto Bautista-Agut

I think, in the 1st set, the game will be equal and at least 11 games boys together will gather, and then everything exclusively depends on how the match will develop. Will Ofner be effective against a correct Bautista-Agut or will we see the victory of the Spanish tennis player on class again.