With just one week remaining until Wimbledon, players are using the ATP Mallorca Championships to refine their grass-court games. Monday will see eight first round matches, plus one holdover from Sunday. Who will advance? We share our thoughts on the matches. Four are in this article, and the other four are in a separate article. Who do you think will win?
ATP Mallorca Day 2 Predictions
Gilles Simon vs Casper Ruud
Simon is playing a bit better now than he has in years, but it likely won’t be enough. He’s never liked the grass, as his counterpunching game doesn’t work so well on the surface. Ruud, meanwhile, is quickly becoming one of the better players on Tour. It’s hard to see Simon winning this match, even with Ruud’s inexperience on the surface.
Prediction: Ruud in 3
Karen Khachanov vs Lucas Pouille
Khachanov is a bit tough to figure out right now. The talent and the game are all there, but sometimes he just can’t put it together. Still, on a grass court he has all the weapons. It’s hard to see Pouille breaking serve in this one, which gives every advantage to Khachanov.
Prediction: Khachanov in 3
Jiri Vesely vs Salvatore Caruso
Vesely has not made the leap towards the top of the game like his talent and early results might have indicated. It’s been a strange and unfortunate career so far for the Czech. Still, he is the better grass court player and should be able to advance against the Italian in this one.
Prediction: Vesely in 2
Nicola Kuhn vs Feliciano Lopez
Kuhn was very impressive in qualifying in Mallorca, but running into Feliciano Lopez is a tough buzzsaw. Lopez might be 39 years old and might own the record for most losses in ATP Tour history, but he’s still one of the better players on Tour on grass. The elder Spaniard should win.
Prediction: Lopez in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
