Safiullin vs Djokovic: ATP Shanghai Match Prediction
Safiullin and Djokovic will meet on October 9 in the fourth round of the Shanghai tournament. Djokovic showed impressive form in his third-round match, dominating Kobolli. The Serbian player is in top shape and appears unbeatable. While Safiullin is undoubtedly a talented tennis player, it's unlikely he can present a serious challenge to such a dominant opponent. However, could the Russian surprise Novak? The answer to this question, along with betting odds for this match, can be found in our prediction.

Command Analysis

Roman Safiullin

Current Form
Safiullin achieved a dramatic victory over Frances Tiafoe with a scoreline of 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 in the third round of the Shanghai Masters. In this match against the American, Roman recorded 17 aces, converted three break points, and lost three games on his own serve. This win marked his 18th on outdoor hard courts this year, alongside 13 losses.
Professional Attributes
Safiullin is a versatile tennis player who competes confidently on all surface types. His success on the challengers circuit underscores his ability to perform effectively on both fast hard courts and clay. His aggressive playing style, powerful shots from both sides, and strong, reliable serve present a significant challenge to any opponent.
Current Tour Rankings
Due to earlier struggles in the season, Safiullin has fallen out of the top 50 of the ATP rankings and currently sits at 61st place. Nevertheless, Roman secured a trophy in mid-August, winning a challenger in Cary, marking the 24th title of his career.
Betting Insights
Safiullin has lost his last five matches against players ranked in the top 10.

Novak Djokovic

Current Form
Djokovic confidently defeated Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 6-2 in the third round of the Shanghai tournament. In his match against the Italian, Novak served three aces, converted four break points, and did not lose a single game on his serve. This marks the Serbian's twelfth victory on outdoor hard courts this year against four losses.
Professional Qualities
Once an unstoppable attacking titan, Djokovic now faces new challenges. His signature backhand and mental fortitude remain his strengths, but age is beginning to have an impact. The Serbian's speed is not what it used to be, which is an inevitable reality for all athletes. This forces Novak to explore new tactical approaches. Additionally, the evolution of tennis and the emergence of new talents present Djokovic with increased competition.
Current Tour Statistics
This season, the former world number one has just one tournament victory, having claimed gold at the Paris Olympics. Furthermore, he reached the final at Wimbledon, where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the decisive match.
Interesting Betting Facts
Djokovic is a four-time Masters champion in Shanghai.
Trends
Bet No tiebreak in the match
This bet has won in 3 out of Djokovic's last 5 matches
1.54Bet Set productivity: 1>2
In 3 of Safiullin's last 5 matches, events unfolded in this manner
2.22Tip and bets
Djokovic found his rhythm and delivered a strong performance in the third round, conceding only three games to Kobolli across two sets. We anticipate that he will secure a similarly convincing victory against Safiullin.
Our prediction is Djokovic to win with a handicap of (-5) games at odds of 2.15
Total Bet
Safiullin and Djokovic have met twice in their careers, with both matches concluding in straight sets. It is likely that the upcoming match will follow a similar pattern and also end in two sets.
The second prediction is a total of under 21 games at odds of 1.81
First Set Bet
In three of Djokovic's last five matches, more than 9.5 games were played in the first set. We expect the upcoming contest between Novak and Safiullin to start with a high-scoring first set.
Prediction - total over 9.5 games in the first set at odds of 1.89