Grigor Dimitrov scored an upset at the 2023 Rolex Shanghai Masters on Wednesday. He defeated Daniil Medvedev in the second round. Next, the Bulgarian will face Alexander Bublik at the tennis event this week. This will be a round-of-sixteen match in the tournament, with some really big ranking points available in the late rounds. My Dimitrov vs Bublik prediction is that the latter player will make the match more competitive than presumed. He is considered a moderate underdog but looks like he could be viewed as a small favorite.

Schedule of Play: Right-click/Open in the New Tab to check match times: subject to change

Grigor Dimitrov vs Alexander Bublik Head-to-Head Series

These players have met five times in the past. Thus far, Bublik holds the slight edge in the series at 3-2. He won their only meeting that has taken place so far in 2023. The two players met very early this season in a tournament in Marseille. Bublik defeated Dimitrov in a three-set contest. Meanwhile, Dimitrov won two matches in 2021 and 2022, which were played at Cincinnati and Indian Wells respectively.

Bublik has been one of the lesser-known players that has come on strong lately. In Paris, he has wins over Frances Tiafoe and Nicolas Jarry. So far, Bublik has not lost a set at the venue this season. He did have a tough time in the last match but won the pressure points late in each set. A couple of weeks ago, Bublik won a smaller event in Antwerp. He beat Arthur Fils in the final of the five-round tournament, one where Bublik only dropped an individual set.

Dimitrov has been sharp lately as well. It does not come as a total surprise that he defeated Daniil Medvedev in the last round. Dimitrov, for example, was in the Shanghai semifinals in mid-October. He certainly has been a player to watch and has been competitive in matches, even when up against the highest-ranked players on tour.

Dimitrov has played six sets so far in Paris this week. That has included three tiebreakers. That won’t exhaust Dimitrov but there is a chance that he is just a little below par against Bublik.

The Draw: Right-click/Open in the New Tab for the draw for the 2023 Rolex Paris Masters

Dimitrov vs Bublik Prediction: Bublik +2.5 games

The betting odds make Dimitrov the favorite at -200 (bet365). However, that is probably too strong of a favorite for bettors to take. There’s not much reason to believe that this shouldn’t be anything but a near coin toss. In fact, you might put Bublik as a tiny favorite, at something like -105 or -110. He could certainly be taken at +162 for moneyliners looking for betting value. Another intriguing bet is game handicaps at +2.5 and odds of -110 (bet365).

Our featured article: All previews for upcoming tennis matches!