Eight main draw singles matches will be played on Tuesday at the Intrum Stockholm Open. While the highest seeds are not due to make their debut yet, the Royal Tennis Hall will host several intriguing matchups. But who will reach the second round?
ATP Stockholm Open Tuesday Predictions
Filip Krajinovic vs Casper Ruud
Head to head: first meeting
Both players arrived at Stockholm in the midst of a mini slump after a tremendous campaign. The often injured Krajinovic owns one of the best backhands in the business, whereas the forehand is, without a doubt, Ruud’s top weapon. Norway’s top prospect has yet to make noise on hard at tour level events, so I’m leaning toward a tight Krajinovic win, thus ending his three match losing streak.
Prediction: Krajinovic in 2
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Elias Ymer vs Yuichi Sugita
Head to head: first meeting
Remember when the Swede qualified for all four Grand Slams in 2015, his age 19 season? Me too. He failed to win a main draw match and, aside from a legit Caltanissetta challenger title, did not really do much that season. Four years later, at No. 123, he still belongs in Grand Slam qualifying purgatory. Will his brother Mikael’s breakout propel him to the Top 100? Swedish fans surely hope so. It’s hard to be optimistic, though, since Ymer has not competed at all since the US Open. Besides, his latest hard court victory dates back to March. For his part, Sugita, who entered the draw as a lucky loser, was streaking prior to the US Open, but has gone cold since.
Prediction: Ymer in 3
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Alexei Popyrin vs Oscar Otte
Head to head: Popyrin 1-0 Otte
Popyrin is one of the most exciting young players on tour. The Aussie has made a major leap in 2019, having jumped 60 spots since January. The youngsters have performed so well overall that he is still on the outside looking in in the Race to Milan at No. 11. Popyrin could have collected many more points had he played more challengers, where he would probably dominate. Instead, he chose the high-risk, high-reward route of tour level qualifying draws. Including the Stockholm Open, the Australian has qualified for nine main draws this season. While those eighteen wins haven’t produced many points, Popyrin will reap the benefits in the near future. Contrarily, Otte is a full-time challenger player with sporadic participations on the main circuit. The German lucky loser will attempt to rise to the occasion against Popyrin.
Prediction: Popyrin in 2
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