Albert Ramos Vinolas vs Jozef Kovalik Maia Open Expert Tip: Ramos Vinolas a Tier Above Slovakian Counterpart

Albert Ramos Vinolas vs Jozef Kovalik (Maia Open): Tuesday, November 28th

We’ve reached the final week of the ATP Challenger Tour for 2023. There are still plenty of matches on offer, however, as there are four tournaments to choose from.

For Tuesday’s preview, we’ll head to the Maia Open and delve into Albert Ramos Vinolas vs Jozef Kovalik.

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In this article:

• Albert Ramos Vinolas vs Jozef Kovalik Expert Tip
• Albert Ramos Vinolas Recent Form
• Jozef Kovalik Recent Form
• Albert Ramos Vinolas vs Jozef Kovalik H2H Stat of the Match
• Gamble Responsibly

Albert Ramos Vinolas vs Jozef Kovalik Expert Tip

• Expert Tip: Ramos Vinolas -2.5 Games
• Best Odds: 1.90
• Bookmaker: Pinnacle
• Stakes: 4/10

I have to back Ramos Vinolas here on the games handicap at anything under 3.5 or 4 games.

With both men relying on a consistent game and being somewhat underpowered, I have to think that the man who has been making deep runs consistently of late on this surface and has played at a higher level for years has to be favoured by at least one break in each set.

This number is off and is one that could very well be covered even in a third set, which Ramos Vinolas really shouldn’t need.

Odds as at 2:00 am UK Time on November 28th, 2023. Odds may now differ.

Read on for more expert insights.

Albert Ramos Vinolas Recent Form

It was an awful start to 2023 for the veteran from Spain, but he’s rounded into form on his preferred red clay courts in the last few months.

Ramos Vinolas has played four clay court Challengers since the start of September and reached at least the quarterfinals in all of them, making the semifinals in each of the last three.

HIs quality has finally started to shine through a bit in the last few months as the season winds down.

Back in the top-100, he’ll now be assured to take part in the Australian Open’s main draw. He isn’t likely to expect much in Melbourne, but grand slam main draws are incredibly important in the tennis world, as even first round prize money can help fund a player’s season.

Jozef Kovalik Recent Form

Much like Ramos Vinolas, it’s been a down year for Kovalik as well. The difference? He hasn’t really turned it around all that much of late.

The Slovakian has only made one quarterfinal at the Challenger level on clay and has more losses on the surface – his best one – than wins in 2023.

He’s played plenty of three setters along the way, but some of the losses weren’t the best and he still lost by margin in a few of them that went three.

His game also has a fairly low ceiling as well, with his power very limited and the fact he can still get error prone from time to time.

The 30-year-old is pretty much a career journeyman on the lower circuit and I just don’t know if he has the chope to stick with Ramos Vinolas.

Albert Ramos Vinolas vs Jozef Kovalik H2H – Stat of the Match

Only one prior meeting between these two, but considering it came in 2014 and was played at altitude in Kitzbuhel, Austria, it’s hard to really put much stock into it.

The fact that these two European dirtballers haven’t played since, however, is kind of the point though. With both being veterans, you’d expect their paths to cross more than once in a decade, but with Ramos Vinolas being an ATP Tour regular for most of the time since and Kovalik a career Challenger Tour journeyman, it actually isn’t all that much of a surprise.

With a fairly similar game style and Ramos Vinolas just being a player of much higher quality, I’ll happily back him on the handicap.

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