An exciting second day at ATP Stuttgart has ended! While Milos Raonic and Gael Monfils advanced, Denis Shapovalov and Nick Kyrgios lost in their first matches on the grass. What will happen on Day 3? Read on to find out!
ATP Stuttgart Day 3 Predictions
Nikoloz Basilashvili vs Marton Fucsovics
Head to Head: 4-2 Fucsovics
A trip to the quarterfinals is on the line as fourth seed Nikoloz Basilashvili takes on Marton Fucsovics. Basilashvili has had an on-and-off season, and this will be his first match of the season on the grass. He will be looking to avenge a first round loss at the French Open. Basilashvili has not had a ton of success on grass in the past, but could be excited about having a fresh start away from the clay. Marton Fucsovics picked up a tight two-set win over Jaume Munar in the opening round of Stuttgart. The match was closer than expected, given the surface, but Fucsovics did well to win that match.
Fucsovics leads the head to head 4-2, and has won two of the three matches the two have contested this season. However, Basilashvili won the most recent meeting in Rome and the only meeting on grass, at Wimbledon in 2015. Basilashvii’s first-strike, power baseline tennis, theoretically, should translate well to the grass. Fucsovics has played well on grass in the past, but could be a little overpowered by Basilashvili on this surface. Basilashvili wins a tight one.
Prediction: Basilashvili in 3
Jan-Lennard Struff vs Miomir Kecmanovic
Head to Head: Never Played
Jan-Lennard Struff takes on Miomir Kecmanovic in the second round of Stuttgart. Struff was dominant in his win over Denis Shapovalov in the first round. Struff was not broken all match, and pulled out a tight straight sets win to get his grass court season started. Kecmanovic pulled off a stunner, as he beat Philipp Kohlschreiber in the fifth match on grass in his career. After struggling on serve in the first set, Kecmanovic settled in and slowly took control of that match.
These two players have never matched up before. Kecmanovic did very well to win that match against Kohlschreiber, but he could be in trouble if Struff is able to play with the controlled aggression that has become the new norm for him. Look for Struff to overpower Kecmanovic and move on to the quarterfinals.
Prediction: Struff in 2
Lucas Pouille vs Daniil Medvedev
Head to Head: 3-0 Pouille
Lucas Pouille clashes with third seed Daniil Medvedev in an interesting second round match in Stuttgart. After a shaking run of form since the Australian Open, Pouille is slowly starting to find his game. He won in a third set tiebreak over Feliciano Lopez to set up the matchup with Medvedev. Medvedev will be playing in his first grass court match of the season, but has had moderate success on grass in the past. Medvedev’s flat groundstrokes are perfect for the low, skidding bounces that occur on grass.
Pouille has won every match between these two players. However, Pouille and Medvedev have never played on grass. Medvedev should be able to give Pouille fits on this surface, as the ball will rarely be sitting up in Pouille’s strike zone for Pouille to hit his powerful groundstrokes. However, Medvedev has lost four matches in a row, so he could be low on confidence. In any case, Medvedev’s flat game should allow him to take control of points and give him the win in this match.
Prediction: Medvedev in 3
Jo-Wilfred Tsonga vs Milos Raonic
Head to Head: 4-2 Raonic
It will be a huge showdown between very accomplished players as Jo-Wilfred Tsonga battles sixth seed Milos Raonic in Stuttgart. Tsonga easily beat Mischa Zverev in straight sets in the first round. Tsonga didn’t even facing a break point all match. Raonic had a tougher time in his first round match, winning a final set tiebreak over Alexei Popyrin. The Canadian was only broken once, and faced two break points, all match.
Raonic leads the head to head 4-2, and has won four matches in a row against Tsonga (not including an exhibition match). These two have never played a grass court match that was not an exhibition. It should be very close, as both player serve very well and can take advantage of short balls. Raonic seemed a little out of match form in his first round match, however, and Tsonga should be able to take advantage of that to pull out a tight win.
Prediction: Tsonga in 3
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