The 2019 ATP season may be swiftly heading towards its conclusion, but there is still plenty of tennis to be played over the coming weeks, including at the Vienna Open. A number of stars including home hope and top seed Dominic Thiem and London hopefuls Karen Khachanov and Matteo Berrettini have made the trip to the Austrian capital. But who will come out on top on day one?
Vienna Open Day One Predictions
Kyle Edmund vs Matteo Berrettini
Head-to-head: Edmund 2-0 Berrettini
Kyle Edmund’s defeat in the first round of qualifying in Antwerp was the Briton’s seventh consecutive loss. The 24-year-old’s is understandably entirely short of confidence and with Dan Evans having taken his spot as the British #1 and Andy Murray making impressive strides, this looks to be a concerning time indeed for the Yorkshireman. Berrettini, in contrast, is enjoying a superb season. Last time out, he made the last four at the Shanghai Masters after having also made the semifinals at the US Open.
But he will need to continue his late-season surge in Vienna and Paris if he is to keep his slim chances of making the ATP Finals alive. However, he should feel confident about his chances of claiming victory in this one. Though both men can summon real power off the ground, particularly with their forehands, Edmund’s game has been misfiring all year. Although he lost both their previous meetings, expect the ascendant Italian to book his place in the second round without too many problems.
Prediction: Berrettini in 2
Embed from Getty Images
Pierre-Hugues Herbert vs Diego Schwartzman
Head-to-head: first meeting
Diego Schwartzman is currently enduring something of a slump. After making an impressive run to the quarterfinals at the US Open in September, where it took a fine performance from eventual champion Rafael Nadal to stop him, he has won only one match and suffered first-round defeats in both Shanghai and Antwerp. That drop off in form has all but ended his chances of reaching the season-ending championships for the first time in his career.
So whilst he looks, on paper, to be the clear favourite in this clash, Pierre-Hugues Herbert may like his chances. The Frenchman has had a fine season in singles and his accurate serve and deft hands, which have helped him forge a successful doubles career, will make him a dangerous opponent on the quick indoor courts at the Vienna Open. That said, Schwartzman should still win this match. Few cover the court better than the diminutive Argentine and his excellent returning should go someway to nullifying Herbert’s serve.
Prediction: Schwartzman in 3
Embed from Getty Images
Grigor Dimitrov vs Damir Dzumhur
Head-to-head: Dimitrov 3-0 Dzumhur
Grigor Dimitrov did beat Roger Federer at the US Open en route to the semifinals, but aside from that fortnight, it has been a dreadful season for the Bulgarian. He has found it difficult to win back-to-back matches. During the Asian swing, he picked up just one win and his poor form continued at the Stockholm Open as he crashed out in the first round. He has, however, enjoyed the better of his rivalry with Damir Dzumhur. But the Bosnian is not an ideal opponent to play when short of confidence. He will give little away from the back of the court and will make Dimitrov play. That could well see the Bulgarian play his way into trouble once again.
Prediction: Dzumhur in 3
Embed from Getty Images
Hubert Hurkacz vs Karen Khachanov
Head-to-head: first meeting
Both players are in indifferent form at the moment, which should lead to a close contest at the Vienna Open. Hubert Hurkacz capped what has been a breakout season by winning his first title at the Winston-Salem Open in August. But he followed that with a first-round defeat at the US Open and he struggled for consistency during the Asian swing. He lost first-time out at the Japan Open, but did manage to regain some momentum at the Shanghai Masters where he reached the third round.
Karen Khachanov also lost in the first round in New York. Although he then reached the semifinals in Beijing, he was below par in Shanghai, where he lost to Fabio Fognini in the round of 16, and Moscow, where his title defence ended in a disappointing defeat to Andreas Seppi in the quarterfinals. Both men will look to play on the front foot in this one which should lead to a high winner and unforced error count. But Khachanov’s greater experience should prove the difference.
Prediction: Khachanov in 3
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
