Steve Johnson vs. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina – Prediction – ATP Cologne 2 (Germany) 21.10.2020

Preview and players comparison.

Form in the run-up to this week makes Alejandro Davidovich Fokina the favorite, but Steve Johnson’s experience at this level shouldn’t be taken for granted.

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Alejandro Davidovich Fokina continued his fine run of form in Cologne with a routine straight-set win over the struggling Damir Dzumhur earlier this week. The Bosnian performed equally well on the day, but the Spaniard was more efficient in breakpoint conversion, which proved to be the difference in the end, 6-2 6-3. The Spanish youngster registered consecutive main draw wins in ATP Tour events for the first time this year in the first leg of ATP Cologne last week, where he scored solid wins over Emil Ruusuvuori, Marin Cilic, and Dennis Novak before putting in a strong fight against the eventual champion Alexander Zverev in the semifinal. It was only the world #64 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina’s second semifinal appearance on the main tour and first since ATP Estoril 2019. It was also his career-best result on indoor hardcourt as he had gone 5/9 on the surface before entering ATP Cologne last week and was on a five-match losing streak (on IH).

While Alejandro Davidovich Fokina needed a three-set comeback effort against the former world #3 Marin Cilic in Cologne last week, Steve Johnson edged past the big-serving Croatian in straight sets in the first round earlier this week, 7-6 6-4. The American hasn’t won consecutive matches on the main tour since the restart and on indoor hardcourts since progressing to the semifinal of ATP Valencia way back in 2015, where he defeated a Spaniard (Feliciano Lopez) in the second round. After a below-par 2019 season, the former world #21 Steve Johnson made an encouraging start to 2020 by winning the title in Bendigo Challenger and Indian Wells Challenger and reaching the quarterfinal in Delray Beach. However, he seems to have lost all the momentum during the break and is struggling to win matches at the moment.

Match Info.