The 2019 Estoril Open gets underway on Monday with four main draw matches on the singles side. Australian Alex De Minaur is back in action for the first time since losing to Marcos Giron at the BNP Paribas Open.
ATP Estoril Day 1 Predictions
Guido Andreozzi vs Hugo Dellien
H2H: Dellien leads 1-0
Hugo Dellien had a decent week last week, qualifying in Barcelona before falling to Jan-Lennard Struff in the first round. The Bolivian has played well so far this year and should continue to do well on his preferred surface of clay. This match should be close as both players have played on clay coming into the tournament and are ranked around the same. It can go either way, but I’ll give a slight edge to Dellien.
Prediction: Dellien in 3
Yoshihito Nishioka vs Mackenzie McDonald
H2H: First Meeting
Mackenzie McDonald showed that he could play on clay last week defeating Taro Daniel and Gilles Simon in Barcelona. He’ll face a tricky player in Yoshihito Nishioka in Estoril. Nishioka has come close to picking up wins on clay with back to back three-set losses in Monte Carlo and Barcelona. This one should be close too, but I like Nishioka to pick up his first win of the clay court season against McDonald.
Prediction: Nishioka in 3
Reilly Opelka vs Pedro Sousa
H2H: First Meeting
I think this is the most intriguing match of the day. Pedro Sousa is the more experienced player on clay, and he’ll have the crowd behind him playing in Portugal. Sousa kept it close for the most part against Jaume Munar in Barcelona before falling apart in the third set, while Opelka went down quickly against Taylor Fritz. Opelka will keep it close just because of his serve, but he hasn’t shown enough on clay to make me believe he’ll win this match.
Prediction: Sousa in 2
Alex de Minaur vs Joao Domingues
H2H: First Meeting
Alex De Minaur is back after missing the Miami Open and the beginning of the clay court season with a groin injury. Assuming De Minaur is healthy again, he should be one of the favorites to make a run in Estoril. I think he comes back strong with a straightforward win over the local qualifier Joao Domingues.
Prediction: De Minaur in 2
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