Alexander Bublik vs. Dusan Lajovic – Round 2, 2021 Australian Open

The first two days of the 2021 Australian Open saw some exciting matches, and few seeded players in the men’s draw were eliminated. I expect to see plenty of other close and entertaining matches in the upcoming days.

The clash between Alexander Bublik and Dusan Jajovic is a good example of that. It’s a tale of youth versus experience, and the latest odds suggest that the Ukrainian has the upper hand.

I share my thoughts on both players and their chances in this Alexander Bublik vs. Dusan Lajovic betting preview. The post includes my prediction and a free betting pick for the second-round match.

If you believe the latest Alexander Bublik vs. Dusan Lajovic odds of the best tennis betting sites, the Serbian veteran should be on the back foot in this clash. The recent form of both players is likely the main reason for such an assessment, as you can see in my analysis below.

Alexander Bublik’s first win at the Australian Open came way back in 2017 when he was only 19. The Ukrainian had to wait for another four years to record a second victory in Melbourne, beating Aljaz Bedene in the opening round in 2021.

It wasn’t the easiest of matches, but the youngster hit 41 aces on the road to victory.

Bublik books 2nd round of AO-2021 by hitting 41 aces ?.
Bravo! @AustralianOpen pic.twitter.com/3ouQyvCrxF

— Kazakhstan Tennis Federation (@ktf_kz) February 8, 2021

The problem is that Bublik didn’t offer too much outside of his serve, and he did record 10 double faults as well.

A more polished player should be able to take full advantage of so many errors, so the Ukrainian needs to stay consistent. He did that in Antalya early in 2021, reaching the tournament’s final.

Bublik had to retire because of an injury, though, and hasn’t been the same since. He looks vulnerable at this point and has to improve fast.

The last several months were far from ideal for Dusan Lajovic, who struggled badly for form. The Serbian veteran’s last victory came back in September, and his performance in the recent ATP Cup suggested he could be in trouble at the Australian Open 2021.

Lajovic did win his first clash in the tournament, but it was a tight affair that went on for too long. The Serbian barely beat Sergiy Strakhovsky in five sets and was nowhere near close to his best, as you can see from the highlights.

And yet, Lajovic has loads of experience, and this victory should restore some confidence. I expect him to play better against Bublik, and he certainly has a shot at winning.

The sportsbooks view Bublik as the favorite in this one, and I understand why. And yet, I believe it should be much closer than the odds suggest. The Ukrainian has been struggling in the past month or so, while Lajovic is a solid opponent, even if he’s not at the top of his game.

The price of +175 for the underdog is simply too high to skip, so this is my final Bublik vs. Lajovic betting pick.

If you want more help with your wagers for the competition, I recommend you to visit our Australian Open betting guide. It features useful tips that can help you refine your betting strategy.