With nine first-round matches on the schedule on day two at the ATP Umag Open, there should be plenty of entertaining action for the fans in Croatia. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate, including Lucas Pouille vs Carlos Alcaraz and Aljaz Bedene vs Marco Cecchinato. But who will reach the second round in Umag?
ATP Umag Day 2 Predictions
Daniel Altmaier vs Corentin Moutet
Head-to-head: first meeting
When Daniel Altmaier is on song, the German is a very watchable player. Possessing some of Denis Shapovalov’s elasticity, particularly in his backhand, Altmaier can hit the ball with real power when he is timing it well, but he is also vulnerable to mishits and generally wayward play. He looked sharp in coming through the qualifying, however, beating Flavio Cobolli and Matija Pecotic despite losing the first set in both matches.
One suspects that he will find Corentin Moutet a more difficult opponent. The Frenchman is one of several players on the ATP Tour defined less by their strengths than their ability to expose their opponent’s weaknesses. In essence, Moutet is a very difficult man to play against. That does not bode well for Altmaier, who likes to go for his shots. Expect Moutet to succeed in disrupting Altmaier’s rhythm often enough to reach the second round.
Prediction: Moutet in 2
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Alessandro Giannessi vs Jiri Vesely
Head-to-head: first meeting
Jiri Vesely must be accounted the favourite coming into this match. The Czech has not quite had the career that he once promised, but there is a reason that he is ranked inside the top 100 and Alessandro Giannessi is not. Vesely, who stands 6’6” tall, is capable of summoning formidable power, particularly with his forehand. He can also rely on winning more free points with his serve than Giannessi. Vesely can misfire, particularly against the more skilled defenders, but the Italian Giannessi does not look like a player with enough strings to his bow to win this match.
Prediction: Vesely in 2
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Damir Dzumhur vs Filip Horansky
Head-to-head: Horansky 1-0 Dzumhur
Damir Dzumhur may not be the force he once was, but the Bosnian remains an experienced and wily campaigner. That being said, he seems to have lost something of the discipline and focus that once took him into the world’s top 30. Filip Horansky’s ceiling is certainly not that high, but the Slovakian did play some very fine to beat the Serbians Hamad Medjedovic and Nikola Milojevic in the qualifying. His performance in his 6-2 6-2 win against the latter was particularly impressive. If he can maintain that level against the out of form Dzumhur, expect him to be the man to reach the second round.
Prediction: Horansky in 3
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