The fans at the Royal Tennis Hall in the Swedish capital should have plenty to look forward to on day four of the Stockholm Open. The remaining second-round matches are set to be played and the competition for a place in the quarterfinals should be fierce. But who will come out on top?
ATP Stockholm Open Day 4 Predictions
Denis Shapovalov vs Alexei Popyrin
Head-to-head: Shapovalov 1-0 Popyrin
The last time these two met, Shapovalov was ranked #92 and Popyrin was 204th in the ITF junior rankings. Even though he has yet to reach an ATP final and has had an indifferent season, the Canadian has the tools to dismantle pretty much anyone. The 20-year-old has been a walking highlight reel for years, but has yet to learn that spectacular points alone are not enough to earn silverware at the highest level. But after coming through a severe slump that over the European clay and grass court seasons, things have improved with Mikhail Youzhny offering input.
It is clear that Shapovalov needs to play less reckless tennis if he wants to break into the sport’s elite and it seems he is slowly realising that. Popyrin, meanwhile, has steadily improved both his game and his ranking this season and reached the third round in both Melbourne and New York, as well as winning matches at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. It should not take him too much longer to become a fixture on the main tour. But he still struggles when denied the chance to play on the front foot and Shapovalov has the weaponry to put him in a lot of uncomfortable positions.
Prediction: Shapovalov in 3
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Cedrik-Marcel Stebe vs Mikael Ymer
Head-to-head: first meeting
The oft-injured Cedrik-Marcel Stebe could not buy a win earlier this year, but it all clicked for the German in July when he reached the final in Gstaad. He has amassed a respectable 7-6 record since, including three wins so far in Stockholm against 2018 Australian Open semifinalist Hyeon Chung, Oscar Otte and New York Open finalist Brayden Schnur, though he was taken the distance in all three matches. The problem for Stebe is he will be facing a man in the form of his life.
On the back of his back-to-back Challenger crowns, Ymer is at #26 in Tennis Abstract’s Elo Ratings. In other words, his ATP ranking of world #75, which is a career-high for the Swede, reflects neither his talent nor his recent performances. Joao Sousa, three-times a champion on the ATP Tour, found out as much in the first round, falling to a 5-7 4-6 defeat. Ymer, who crushed Fernando Verdasco 6-2 6-1 in Stockholm three years ago, is playing superb tennis and with the crowd behind him, should be able to score a 13th successive win.
Prediction: Ymer in 2
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Fabio Fognini vs Janko Tipsarevic
Head-to-head: Tipsarevic 1-0 Fognini
Janko Tipsarevic looked sharp in his opener against Corentin Moutet, beating the admittedly below par Frenchman handily, 6-2 6-4. Indeed, that performance rather suggested that Tipsarevic might be advised to delay his imminent retirement. That said, Fabio Fognini, the champion at the Monte Carlo Masters earlier this season, is a different animal entirely. Nor should he lack motivation. The Italian remains very much in the hunt for a place at the ATP Finals, trailing his countryman Matteo Berrettini, who currently holds the eighth and final place, by just 290 points.
And with Berrettini not competing this week, a strong showing at the Stockholm Open will allow Fognini to make a real dent in the younger man’s lead. He is certainly capable of putting together such a run. However, he is also capable of losing to anyone, including the soon to be unranked Jack Sock, who beat him in straight-sets at the Laver Cup. But Tipsarevic likely won’t do much to upset Fognini’s rhythm and with time running out to overhaul Berrettini, he should be focused.
Prediction: Fognini in 2
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