The top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and the fourth seed Fernando Verdasco will kick off their grass-court seasons on Thursday at the Rosmalen Grass Court Championships. But who will book their place in the quarterfinals in the Netherlands?
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Nicolas Jarry
Head-to-head: first meeting
Not a pleasant first-round match for the top seed. The Chilean Nicolas Jarry has a very big serve and did well to beat the rising Italian star Jannik Sinner in his Rosmalen opener in straight sets. However, Stefanos Tsitsipas has been impressively consistent so far this year, reaching semifinals at the Australian and Italian Open, as well as reaching the final in Madrid and winning titles in Marseille and Estoril. His first-strike brand of tennis and excellent net play would suggest that he is well-placed to continue that fine form over the coming weeks of grass-court tennis
Prediction: Tsitsipas in two
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Adrian Mannarino vs Fernando Verdasco
Head-to-head: Verdasco 2-1 Mannarino
Both Adrian Mannarino and Fernando Verdasco have been extremely inconsistent this season. But Mannarino has the advantage of having already played one match on the grass this year after beating Thiemo De Bakker in the first round. This surface also suits the Frenchman, rewarding his relatively flat strikes and his ability to create very short-angles. He won’t allow Verdasco much chance to launch his huge topspin strokes. Mannarino beat the Spaniard was two years ago on the grass courts in Antalya and he looks to have a good chance of repeating that victory in Rosmalen.
Prediction: Mannarino in three
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Richard Gasquet vs Mikhail Kukushkin
Head-to-head: Gasquet 2-0 Kukushkin
Richard Gasquet’s not yet back to his best after a four-month break due to a hernia operation. He still managed to battle past Aljaz Bedene 6-7 7-6 6-4 in Rosmalen, but it was not a particularly encouraging display from the former Wimbledon semifinalist. And, in the second round, he will face a much tougher opponent in the shape of Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan,. If there are any limitations to the Frenchman’s movement, Kukushkin has the ability to expose them.
Prediction: Kukushkin in three
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David Goffin vs Pierre-Hugues Herbert
Head-to-head: Goffin 2-0 Herbert
David Goffin has made a very impressive start to the grass-court season, picking up where he left off at the French Open to dismiss Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the first round for the loss of just two games. Pierre-Hugues Herbert has a great touch and is excellent at ending points at the net. But the quality of the Belgian’s return and ball-striking at the moment will make it extremely hard for the Frenchman to a make a real contest of this.
Prediction: Goffin in two
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