Although the Grand Slam season ended with Rafael Nadal dismantling of Novak Djokovic in the final at Roland Garros to win his 20th Major, the action the ATP Tour continues this week at the Cologne Indoors, whilst there will also be play in Sardinia and St Petersburg. As ever, we here at LWOT are offering our predictions for every match on the slate including Hubert Hurkacz vs Marc Polmans. But who will advance on day one in Germany?
ATP Cologne Indoors Day One Predictions
Jan-Lennard Struff vs Oscar Otte
Head-to-head: first meeting
Jan-Lennard Struff has never been one of the ATP’s more consistent performers, which goes some way to explaining why he has never reached a tour-level final. But he has played some fine tennis since the season resumed, with the highlight his run to the quarterfinals at the relocated Cincinnati Masters, whilst he has a game well-suited to indoor tennis. His compatriot Oscar Otte, meanwhile, has struggled to make an impact on the main tour.
Otte is yet to break into the world’s top 100 and has just two wins at ATP-level to his name, although he is in good form having recently won a Challenger title in Aix-en-Provence. He should also be acclimatised to the conditions in Cologne after coming through the qualifying with wins over Dominik Koepfer and Marc Polmans, which should give him an advantage. But will it be enough to see him past the higher-ranked Struff? Probably not, but don’t be surprised if Otte takes a set off the seventh seed.
Prediction: Struff in 3
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Pierre-Hugues Herbert vs Radu Albot
Head-to-head: Albot 1-0 Herbert
Pierre-Hugues Herbert will still surely be bitterly disappointed by his loss to Alexander Zverev at the French Open. He took the German the distance in Paris, but proved unable to close out the win in the fifth and then, to add insult to injury, he and Nicolas Mahut crashed out of the doubles in the third round. He will be looking to get back on track at the ATP Cologne Indoors as a result, but he has not been handed the easiest of first-round draws.
Radu Albot may not be one of the ATP Tour’s biggest hitters, but the Moldovan covers the court superbly. He also beat Herbert handily in their only previous meeting, which came in similar conditions indoors in Metz two years ago. That said, he has struggled this year, having compiled a 1-8 record for the season. With Herbert enjoying one of his better campaigns in singles and sure to enjoy the indoor conditions, which should suit his net-rushing style, expect the Frenchman to avenge that defeat.
Prediction: Herbert in 2
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Jordan Thompson vs Dennis Novak
Head-to-head: first meeting
It was a French Open to forget for the typically reliable Jordan Thompson, who lost in straight-sets to Albot in the first round. But he should be able to muster an improvement at the ATP Cologne Indoors. The Australian excels when he is able to take the ball early and on the rise with his forehand, compensating for his relative lack of power with good timing. He struggled with that in Paris, but should have more joy on the truer bouncing courts in Germany.
That said, he will have his work cut out for him up against Dennis Novak. The Austrian has put together a fine campaign, breaking into the top 100 for the first time in his career earlier this season. He has, however, lost his last four matches, a disappointing run of form even if he has faced some tough first-round draws. With Thompson the more accomplished hard-court player, expect the Australian to edge what promises to be a close battle.
Prediction: Thompson in 3
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