The Next Gen ATP Finals have been a brilliant invention with the inaugural tournament proving a huge success with players and fans alike. The tournament comes to a close today in Milan with a humdinger of a final as Russian top seed Andrey Rublev takes on sixth seed South Korean Hyeon Chung. Our man Danny Archer has been in sensational tipping form all week in Milan and here are his selections for the final...
Hyeon Chung 8/13 vs Andrey Rublev 13/10 - Unibet Bet £30 and get money back if your first bet loses
I am really looking forward to this one. Firstly, remember the name Hyeon Chung as this kid is potentially top-class. He cantered to the semi-finals of this competition dropping just three sets along the way and had previously given Rafael Nadal a decent game in the ATP 1000 Rolex Paris Maters second round in a match that Nadal needed to win to finish the year as No.1 in the world. The 21-year-old dispatched Denis Shapovalov in four sets on Tuesday, finishing that match really strongly. He was then ruthless against top-seed Andrey Rublev on Wednesday with a devastating straight-set victory dropping just four games. Chung had already qualified for the semi-finals before taking on Gianluigi Quinzi on Thursday. He overcame the Italian in a five-set thriller and I was worried that he may suffer a few ill-effects from that match. However, he was masterful against Daniil Medvedev in yesterday's semi-final. The Russian is a very dangerous player but he blunted his powerful game expertly and moved round the court like a gazelle, it really was poetry in motion. After going two sets up, Chung slightly took off his foot off the pedal thereafter and credit must go to Medvedev who rallied strongly. to level the tie. However, the South Korean showed his class, flair and stamina-laden qualities with a magnificent 4-0 victory in the fourth set in utterly ruthless fashion. He took his head-to-head record to Rublev to 2-0 with victory on Wednesday and that psychological edge could prove pivotal here. Chung possesses a wonderful game with a strong focus on groundstrokes and a effective serve. He moves round the court very well and I have fancied him to win this tournament from the outset and he has not let me down so far. He can deservedly win this tournament and announce himself on the big stage.
It would be folly however to discount Andrey Rublev. With Alexander Zverev's defection, he is the highest ranked player in the competition being the world number 37. He has been taken to five sets in two of his three groups games though which I do think is going to catch up with him. The Russian scraped past late entry and home favourite Gianluigi Quizi, ranked 306th in the world in a titanic five-setter on Tuesday, before being well beaten by Hyeon Chung in straight sets on Wednesday. Rublev did however show his battling qualities to get the better of Denis Shapovalov in a cracking five-set game on Thursday to confirm his place in the semi-finals. It must also be said that Rublev was sensational last night against Croatian Borna Coric. Rublev swept aside notions of fatigue with a straight-set demolition job of the bookmakers' favourite for that match. The Russian is the top seed in this tournament for a reason but the fact that Chung has 2-0 record against him is pivotal for me in this final.
Archer's Ace - I've been bullish about Hyeon Chung's chances all week and he can get the job done in Milan today. I think he is destined to go to the very top and he could prove a bit too street-wise for Rublev year. This should be a cracking game and I wouldn't be surprised if this went the distance.
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Selections (1-5 Points Scale)
Hyeon Chung to win 8/13 - 5pts Win
First Set Hyeon Chung 3/4 - 4pts Win
Over 24.5 Games 22/5 - 2pts Win
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Total of Four Sets 6/4 - 1pt Win
Unibet Bet £30 and get money back if your first bet loses
Already advised - Hyeon Chung to win Next Gen Finals at 5/2
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