With seven interesting matches on the schedule on day two at the ATP European Open, there should be plenty of entertaining tennis for the fans to enjoy. As ever, we here at the LWOS tennis department will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate, including Richard Gasquet vs Alex de Minaur. But who will book their place in the round of 16 in Antwerp?
ATP European Open Day Two Predictions
Cameron Norrie vs Emil Ruusuvuori
Head-to-head: first meeting
Cameron Norrie remains short of the sort of firepower that elevate his game into that of a consistent top 50 player. Without that sort of match-winning weapon, he will remain vulnerable to being overpowered by those at the top of the game, which is exactly what happened to him in the 2-6 1-6 hammering he took at the hands of Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals last week in St Petersburg. But that should not overshadow, at least not entirely, the good work he did in reaching the last eight.
However, he will have his work cut out for him in the first round in Antwerp when he takes on Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori, who has been in impressive form since the season resumed. Ruusuvuori has now qualified for back-to-back tournaments at ATP-level and will be hoping for an improved showing after losing in the first round in Cologne. But although Ruusuvuori likely has a higher ceiling than Norrie, expect the Briton’s greater experience and consistency off the ground to give him the edge here.
Prediction: Norrie in 3
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Kei Nishikori vs Pablo Andujar
Head-to-head: Nishikori 4-1 Andujar
Kei Nishikori remains capable of impressive performances, as he demonstrated by battling past Dan Evans in five sets at the French Open last month. But in truth, the Japanese is a shadow of the player he was before persistent injuries laid him low. Indeed, even in this strangest and shortest of seasons, he has played fewer matches than most of his colleagues, with his first-round clash with Pablo Andujar at the ATP European Open set to be only his seventh match of the year.
The Spaniard will doubtless have sympathy for his opponent, having seen his own career brought to a halt by a serious elbow injury, which ultimately required three surgeries. Since then, he has rebuilt and returned to the top 100, even winning the Grand Prix Hassan II in 2018. However, despite some fine results on hard courts, he has always been considerably more comfortable on the clay and if Nishikori can find anything like his best tennis, he should have enough to account for the Spaniard.
Prediction: Nishikori in 3
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Zizou Bergs vs Albert Ramos Vinolas
Head-to-head: first meeting
Albert Ramos Vinolas made a very solid start to his campaign at the ATP Sardinia Open last time out, only to see the wheels come off spectacularly in the quarterfinals, where he lost 6-4 1-6 1-6 to Marco Cecchinato. That has been the story of the Spaniard’s year, with Ramos Vinolas having recorded back-to-back victories just three times so far in 2020. But one suspects that he will like his chances up against Belgian wild card Zizou Bergs.
To describe the 21-year-old as inexperienced would be something of an understatement. Not only will Bergs be playing his first match at ATP-level when he takes on Ramos Vinolas, it will also be the first time this season that he has played above ITF-level, where his last match ended in defeat at the hands of Francisco Comesana, who is currently ranked 529th in the world. It suffices to say then, that he is facing a serious step up in quality against Ramos Vinolas, who has 217 ATP wins to his name. Expect the Spaniard to claim his 218th without too much difficulty.
Prediction: Ramos Vinolas in 2
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