Stefanos Tsitsipas is the favourite here, and deservedly so given the gap in quality between the two. Even so, the odds on Mikhail Kukushkin look far too generous for a veteran making one of his final appearances at his home tournament.
Occasions like this tend to inspire the Kazakh, and when he lifts his level, he becomes an awkward opponent. Tsitsipas may still get over the line, but Kukushkin has the craft and motivation to make him earn it.
Kukushkin Faces An Uphill Battle Against Top-Level Opposition
- Tsitsipas has reached at least the quarterfinals in seven of his last eight indoor hard-court events.
- He holds a 16-1 record against players outside the top 100 in 2026.
- Kukushkin registered his first tour-level main-draw win in two years this week.
- He has lost 19 of his last 21 matches against top-50 players.
HTH - Srefanos Tsitsipas leads 5-0
| Year | Tournament | Round | Surface | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Astana | 1R | Hard (Indoor) | Stefanos Tsitsipas | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2019 | Monte Carlo | 2R | Clay | Stefanos Tsitsipas | 6-3, 7-5 |
| 2019 | Marseille | F | Hard (Indoor) | Stefanos Tsitsipas | 7-5, 7-6(6) |
| 2018 | Rome | Q-1R | Clay | Stefanos Tsitsipas | 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(5) |
| 2018 | Dubai | 1R | Hard | Stefanos Tsitsipas | 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3 |
Tsitsipas Looks To Build On Hard-Fought Almaty Opener
Stefanos Tsitsipas registered a hard-fought three-set victory over Aleksandar Kovacevic in the opening round in Almaty, winning 7-6, 3-6, 6-3. The Greek fired seven aces and won 83% of his first-serve points during the match.
Tsitsipas struggled significantly earlier this year and came close to dropping out of the top 100. However, he has bounced back with some solid results in recent months, winning the title in Gstaad and reaching the fourth round at the US Open and in Shanghai. Those performances helped him return to the top 40 in the rankings.
The 28-year-old also has a strong career record on indoor hard courts. Despite struggling for form in recent years, he has reached at least the quarterfinals in seven of his last eight events on the surface, making him a player to watch in Almaty.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Country | Greece |
| Age | Born 12 August 1998 |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| World Ranking | No. 39 |
| Career High | No. 3 (9 August 2021) |
| Elo Ranking | No. 20 |
| Tour-Level Titles | 14 |
Kukushkin Delivers Memorable Win In Career Farewell
Mikhail Kukushkin advanced to the second round in what is set to be the final tournament of his career. Backed by tremendous home support, he defeated Stefanos Sakkellardis in two tiebreaks, winning 7-6, 7-6. After trailing by a break in the opening set, the veteran fought back to secure the victory.
It was Kukushkin’s first tour-level win since 2024 and his best result in Almaty. In his previous two appearances, he exited either in qualifying or in the opening round.
Earlier this year, Kukushkin reached three consecutive quarterfinal-or-better finishes on the Challenger circuit, but recurring fitness issues halted his progress. Over the past six years, he has recorded multiple main-draw wins at tour level event only once, at Hangzhou in 2024.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Country | Kazakhstan |
| Age | Born 26 December 1987 |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| World Ranking | No. 389 |
| Career High | No. 39 (25 February 2019) |
| Elo Ranking | No. 222 |
| Tour-Level Titles | 1 |