It was an exciting start to the tournament in Montpellier on day one in the south of France, with the action set to continue on day two. A number of fascinating matches are on the slate, but who will rise to the occasion at the Open Sud de France and who will fall short?
ATP Open Sud de France Day 2 Predictions
Emil Ruusuvuori vs Dennis Novak
Head-to-head: first meeting
Emil Ruusuvuori qualified for the Open Sud de France, beating Frenchman Nicolas Mahut in a third-set tiebreak to make the main draw. Dennis Novak, meanwhile, is playing his first match in Montpellier since the Australian Open, where he qualified into the main draw, but lost in five sets to Hubert Hurkacz in the first round. He also enjoyed a fine campaign at the ATP Cup, despite Austria’s group stage exit, and recently broke into the top 100 for the first time in his career.
However the Finn Ruusuvuori will have the advantage of greater familiarity with the conditions in Montpellier. Typically aggressive, expect the young gun to step up the court and look to dominate with his serve and groundstrokes. Novak, in contrast, is more comfortable counter-punching and will surely look to his defence to grind down the Finn. But the indoor conditions should favour the more aggressive player, although Novak has the quality to keep it close.
Prediction: Ruusuvuori in 3
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Jannik Sinner vs Mikael Ymer
Head-to-head: Sinner 1-0 Ymer
After winning the ATP NextGen Finals last season, Jannik Sinner has gone 1-3 to start the season, most recently losing in the second round at the Australian Open. Mikael Ymer, in a marked contrast, has won six of his nine matches so far in 2020, although the Swede also lost in the second round at the Australian Open, falling to 16th seed Karen Khachanov in a fifth-set tiebreak to his great and understandable disappointment.
Sinner’s backhand is world-class and he has proven able to overpower opponents throughout his fledgling career. But Ymer possesses a very heavy forehand in his own right, and while he likes to play defense, he will take advantage of openings his opponents give him to attack. That said, this pair met in similar conditions in Milan late last season with Sinner winning comfortably. At the Open Sud de France, expect Sinner’s power too once again prove too much for Ymer to handle.
Prediction: Sinner in 2
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Enzo Couacaud vs Filip Krajinovic
Head-to-head: Krajinovic 1-0 Couacaud
Enzo Couacaud did well to qualify for the Open Sud de France without losing a set, beating Marco Trungelliti and the Spanish veteran Guillermo Garcia Lopez. Filip Krajinovic, meanwhile, has had a mediocre start to the season, posting a 2-2 record so far in 2020. Krajinovic leads the head to head 1-0, although their only previous matchup was in 2014 on a clay court. Couacaud likes to play offense and has a big serve and a powerful forehand, but he may once again struggle against the clean-hitting Krajinovic. The Serbian is a fine mover and he should be able to force Couacaud into a costly number of unforced errors.
Prediction: Krajinovic in 2
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Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Damir Dzumhur
Head-to-head: Dzumhur 1-0 Auger-Aliassime
After a breakthrough 2019, Felix Auger-Aliassime has rather toiled so far in 2020, with just three wins to his name so far this year, none of which have come against top 100 opposition. And whilst Damir Dzumhur may not be the player he once was, the Bosnian has won four matches this season and beat the Frenchmen Quentin Halys and Elliot Benchetrit to come through the qualifying without dropping a set.
He also won his only previous match against Auger-Aliassime, beating the Canadian at the Blois Challenger, albeit on clay. On an indoor hard court. Dzumhur may find it harder to blunt Auger-Aliassime’s power, although the young gun has had some problems with accuracy so far this year. If he is not able to correct his radar, he will be in for a tough day at the office against the counter-punching Dzumhur. But his ability to play on the front foot should nonetheless prove the difference.
Prediction: Auger-Aliassime in 3
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