Plenty of action continues here on Day 3 at the Vienna Open. Familiar names such as Gael Monfils and Grigor Dimitrov will be a delight for the fans. Whilst the NextGen players such as Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov will be trying to make good impressions for the crowd here at the Vienna Open in the Austrian capital.
ATP Vienna Open Day 3 Predictions
Gael Monfils vs Dennis Novak
Head-to-head: First meeting
Gael Monfils has arguably had a slump in form at the moment. The French entertainer has failed to string back-to-back victory after his impressive quarterfinal to the US Open. The 33-year-old lost easily to teenager Jannik Sinner in straight sets last week in Antwerp and lost to Hubert Hurkacz in Shanghai the week before.
His opponent, Dennis Novak has mainly been on the ATP Challenger Tour this season and Monfils will be a completely different level of opponent that he usually faces. The Austrian will adjust quickly and need to hope not only the crowd get behind him but also that he plays arguably one of the best matches of his life to upset the Frenchman on home soil.
Despite his poor form right now, it is hard to see the Frenchman losing in the first round here. But anything could happen with the Frenchman.
Prediction: Monfils in 2
Andrey Rublev vs Felix Auger-Aliassime
Head-to-head: Rublev leads 1-0
Rublev will be on Cloud 9 at the moment after having won his first singles title in two years on home soil- Moscow. His opponent, the teenager Auger-Aliassime had a short but good Asian swing. The Canadian lost to Zverev and Tsitsipas, which both players are arguably better than him at the moment. It will be an interesting match in terms of style as Rublev tends to go for his shots every rally, whereas Auger-Aliassime likes to rally and look for the right opportunity to finish the point off.
Expect Rublev to build his form from Moscow and get an important victory to progress to the next round.
Prediction: Rublev in 3
Pablo Carreno-Busta vs Denis Shapovalov
Head-to-head: Carreno-Busta leads 2-1
Having just won his maiden singles title in Stockholm, Shapovalov will be feeling confident with how his game is at the moment. However, his opponent, Pablo Carreno-Busta will likewise be feeling good about his own game as well. The Spaniard won Chengdu last month, in which he beat Shapovalov en-route to the title. This was followed up by a semifinal showing in Stockholm last week.
As explained above the pair’s most recent meeting was just over a month ago, in which the Spaniard won comfortably in straight sets 6-3 6-4. Thus expect Shapovalov to change things up and make it a closer match. Both players are in good form, so it can depend on who plays slightly better on the day. With Shapovalov just coming off a title, expect him to extend his streak.
Prediction: Shapovalov in 3
Matteo Berrettini vs Grigor Dimitrov
Head-to-head: Dimitrov leads 1-0
Berrettini is coming into Vienna with some good form after a good semifinal showing at the Shanghai Masters. However, a cause for concern for the Italian and his fans will be a possible ankle injury in which he sustained in the first round against Kyle Edmund. The 23-year-old nevertheless got through the match, but he will need to be careful.
Dimitrov, on the other hand, has continued to struggle with major success after his somewhat surprising run at the US Open. The Bulgarian edged through Damir Dzumhur in the first round, but still looked shaky in pressure moments as he has all season. Even though Dimitrov got the better of the young Italian in Monte Carlo in May this year, expect a different result this time. If Berrettini is fit, it should be a straight forward victory and a much-needed victory as he looks to qualify for London for the first time next month.
Prediction: Berrettini in 2
Main Photo from Getty
