After two exciting days of tennis in Munich, the big guns will join the fray at the Bavarian International, including world #3 and defending champion Alexander Zverev and 2018 French Open semifinalist Marco Cecchinato. But who will book their place in the last eight and who will succumb to the disappointment of defeat?
Diego Schwartzman vs Christian Garin (first on Center Court)
Sixth seed Diego Schwartzman will surely be looking for a deep run in Munich after what has been a disappointing start to the European clay-court swing by his high standards. However, the Argentine may have his work cut out for him against Chile’s Christian Garin. Schwartzman does lead their head-to-head 2-1 after beating Garin in 2014 at a Challenger in Bucaramanga and last season in the Davis Cup. Garin, however, is enjoying the best season of his career, highlighted by an impressive run to the title in Houston in March.
He possesses a useful forehand, which he can inject heavy topspin into. He is also the better server of the two and, one suspects, maintaining a high first-serve percentage could well prove crucial to his chances. The diminutive Schwartzman makes up for his lack of outright power with excellent timing, which allows him to spread the court superbly off both wings. He also covers the court extremely well. Though a mid-match loss of concentration against Benoit Paire in the first round will be a concern, expect him to have enough to see off Garin’s challenge, after a battle.
Prediction: Schwartzman in three
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Alexander Zverev vs Juan Ignacio Londero (second on Center Court)
German #1 Alexander Zverev has just twelve wins to his name so far in 2019, a disappointing record for a top five player. And with big points to defend in the coming weeks in Madrid and Rome, he will be desperate to rediscover the winning touch at the Bavarian International, where he has lifted back-to-back titles. But he may not have things all his own way against the consistent clay-court specialist Juan Ignacio Londero of Argentina, in what is the first meeting between the two.
Zverev, at his best, can summon a devastating array of attacking force, with his two-handed backhand amongst the best in the sport. But he can also do damage with his forehand, particularly when allowed time on the ball. He also possesses a powerful first serve. However, he has struggled badly to combine those elements into a winning formula in recent weeks, with a proliferation of unforced errors having proved costly. Londero, who lacks massive power but gives little away, may well be relying on Zverev struggling in that regard again. But backed by the German crowd at a tournament he has not lost at since 2016, expect Zverev to at least pass this test.
Prediction: Zverev in two
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Marco Cecchinato vs Martin Klizan (third on Center Court)
Italy’s Marco Cecchinato, seeded third at the Bavarian International, has had a rather hit-and-miss season so far, but he is typically a force to be reckoned with on the terre battue. But he may need to be at his best up against the dangerous Martin Klizan in their first career-meeting. The Slovakian made short work of former-world #10 Ernests Gulbis in the first round and has won four of his six ATP titles on red clay, most recently in Kitzbuhel last season.
Cecchinato can call upon considerable power from the back of the court, with his single-hander a dangerous weapon. He also uses the drop shot to good effect on clay. However, he will need to ensure that Klizan is not allowed time on the ball. If the world #60 has that, particularly on his forehand side, he can take the racquet out of anyone’s hands, as previous victories over both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal illustrate. That said, Klizan is not the player he was in his pomp. Expect Cecchinato to land the more telling blows.
Prediction: Cecchinato in three
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Marton Fucsovics vs Thiago Monteiro (fourth on Center Court)
Eighth seed Marton Fucsovics must surely be accounted amongst the dark horses for the title in Munich. But his credentials may receive stern examination at the hands of Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro, who crushed the in-form Jan-Lennard Struff in the first round for the loss of just two games. It will be the first meeting between the pair, who will surely both be desperate to book their place in the quarterfinals at the Bavarian International.
It looks to be a reasonably evenly matched contest on paper. Fucsovics is the more powerfully equipped of the two, with the Hungarian particularly dangerous when able to step in and take his forehand early. Monteiro, however, moves very well on the clay and, thanks to the heavy topspin he deploys, has big margins off both the forehand and backhand. However, over the course of the match, it is hard not to see Fucsovics’ greater power and experience paying off in his favour.
Prediction: Fucsovics in two
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