Day four at the Bavarian International promises another day of exciting action in Munich as a number of the top seeds take to the court, including Paris Masters champion Karen Khachanov and Roberto Bautista Agut, who has twice upset world #1 Novak Djokovic this season. But who will claim their place in the quarterfinals?
Guido Pella vs Taro Daniel (first on Center Court)
In their second career meeting, eighth seed Guido Pella will taken on Taro Daniel of Japan at the Bavarian International. Their first meeting came last season in the first round in Umag, with Pella rallying after a slow start to claim a 1-6 6-3 6-3 win. He also comes into this match in fine form after reaching the quarterfinals in Monte Carlo and Barcelona. Daniel, in contrast, lost first round at both the Monte Carlo Masters and the Barcelona Open, although he did impress in beating Ugo Humbert in straight sets in the first round in Munich.
Pella is a natural clay courter, relying on excellent court coverage and impressively consistent groundstrokes to grind opponents down rather than massive power. Daniel is cut from a similar cloth, but lacks the same affinity for the red dirt as the Argentine, though he can, perhaps, inject more pace into his groundstrokes than Pella. Nonetheless, Pella is playing the best tennis of his career and should have more than enough to blunt Daniel’s challenge.
Prediction: Pella in two
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Roberto Bautista Agut vs Rudolf Molleker (second on Center Court)
In a battle between youth and experience, the veteran fourth seed Roberto Bautista Agut will take on German teenager Rudolf Molleker for a place in the last eight. Bautista Agut is having another impressive season, highlighted by winning the title in Doha in January. However, he did suffer a crushing 1-6 1-6 loss to his countryman Rafael Nadal in his last outing in Monte Carlo. The 18-year-old Molleker, meanwhile, is making a rare appearance at tour-level, but impressed in battling past Romania’s Marius Copil 7-6 4-6 6-4 in the first round.
Bautista Agut, unusually for a Spaniard, does not typically play his best tennis on a clay court. He is at his most dangerous when flattening out his groundstrokes, but clay courts force him to add more topspin, costing him penetration. Molleker, meanwhile, has a useful first serve and sufficiently consistent groundstrokes to suggest he has a bright future in the sport. But after a taxing first-round win, it is hard to see him having enough left in the tank to survive Bautista Agut.
Prediction: Bautista Agut in two
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Karen Khachanov vs Philipp Kohlschreiber (third on Center Court)
Russia’s Karen Khachanov has endured a difficult start to the year after what appeared to be a breakthrough win at the Paris Masters at the tail-end of last season. And his task gets no easier in Munich where his opening assignment is former-champion Philipp Kohlschreiber. The German has won two of their previous three clashes, including their most recent, when he edged out Khachanov at the Italian Open last season, 7-5 6-7 7-6.
Khachanov can summon fearsome power with both his forehand and backhand and also possesses a hammer blow of a first serve. However, after trouble with a racquet switch earlier in the season, he has been misfiring badly so far in 2019. That may cause him trouble against the consistent Kohlschreiber, who typically gives little away and is never more at home than on a clay court. Expect the second seed’s difficult season to continue.
Prediction: Kohlschreiber in three
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Matteo Berrettini vs Denis Kudla (fourth on Center Court)
The in-form Matteo Berrettini, last week the champion in Budapest, will put his unbeaten streak on the line when he takes on Denis Kudla of the USA. Kudla scored a very impressive straight-sets win over Britain’s Kyle Edmund, the fifth seed. Berrettini and Kudla have met four times previously, with Kudla leading their head-to-head 3-1. However, all four of their previous clashes, the most recent of which came earlier this season in Dubai, have come on hard courts.
On a slow clay court like those found at the Bavarian International the conditions will surely favour the big-hitting Berrettini. His forehand is best shot, but his backhand is also a useful weapon. Kudla’s biggest strength is his movement and his ability to take the ball early. As a result, he will need to maintain good court position or be in danger of being overwhelmed by the Italian’s power. Ultimately though, it is difficult to see a path to victory for the American.
Prediction: Berrettini in two
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