There should be plenty of entertaining action on day three at the ATP Gstaad Open with a number of big guns set to join the fray in Switzerland, including two of the top four seeds. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for all four second-round matches on the schedule. But who will book their place in the quarterfinals?
ATP Gstaad Day 3 Predictions
Laslo Djere vs Zizou Bergs
Head-to-head: first meeting
Zizou Bergs looks to be a player with a bright future with the Belgian having soared up the rankings over the last 12 months. Having started last season ranked outside the world’s top 550, Bergs now finds himself within striking distance of the top 200. He does play the majority of his tennis at Challenger-level, but he has had a good week so far at the ATP Gstaad Open, beating Aleksandar Vukic and Steven Diez to reach the main draw, where he got the better of Oscar Otte. He won all three matches in straight sets.
However, he will likely find things tougher when he takes on Laslo Djere. The Serbian has a considerable advantage in terms of experience and looked sharp in beating Brazil’s Thiago Seyboth Wild 6-4 6-3 in the first round. Bergs has been playing well enough to suggest that he will give Djere more of a workout than Seyboth Wild, but it is still hard to ignore Djere’s greater pedigree. Expect the seventh seed to prove just about too strong for Bergs.
Prediction: Djere in 3
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Federico Delbonis vs Hugo Gaston
Head-to-head: first meeting
It has been a clay-court season to remember for Federico Delbonis. The Argentine has won an excellent 23 tour-level matches on the terre battue so far in 2021 which puts him level with Stefanos Tsitsipas for the most clay-court match wins this season, although he has lost 11 matches to the Greek’s five. Delbonis’ 23rd win was relatively routine as he swept past the inexperienced Swiss wild card Leandro Riedi for the loss of six games.
Hugo Gaston, who made his name with a run to the last 16 at Roland Garros last season, has not been performing quite so consistently, but the Frenchman has found some form. He reached the final at the Iasi Challenger last time out and opened his campaign in Gstaad by thrashing Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-4 6-2. That said, Delbonis is a cut above the sort of opposition he has been playing. Gaston may succeed in troubling the Argentine with his variety, but expect Delbonis’ power off the ground to give a decisive advantage.
Prediction: Delbonis in 2
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Arthur Rinderknech vs Roberto Bautista Agut
Head-to-head: first meeting
There is no doubting a Roberto Bautista Agut’s ability – a player does not reach the top ten and a Wimbledon semifinal by chance – but there is also no doubt that the Spaniard is struggling. It has been a below-par season for Bautista Agut and although he showed signs of life at Wimbledon, he was ultimately well-beaten in the fourth round by Denis Shapovalov. Arthur Rinderknech, in contrast, is a man whose star looks to be on the rise.
The Frenchman currently finds himself ranked 100th in the world, but he is certain to improve on that in the coming months. In the first round at the ATP Gstaad Open, he delivered an assured performance to beat home hope Dominic Stricker in straight sets. He also brings the advantage of having played six clay-court matches since Wimbledon to Bautista Agut’s none. But will that be enough to overcome the difference in talent and experience? Possibly, but probably not.
Prediction: Bautista Agut in 3
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Marc Polmans vs Cristian Garin
Head-to-head: Garin 2-0 Polmans
Marc Polmans enjoyed a fine run at Wimbledon, beating Borna Gojo, Felix Gill and Ramkumar Ramanathan to reach the main draw, where he beat former-quarterfinalist Lu Yen-hsun to reach the second round at a Major for the third time in his career. But he was beaten there by none other than Cristian Garin, who also got the better of him in the second round at the French Open last season though he was made to work hard for both wins.
With Polmans having looked in good touch in his first-round win over Swiss wild card Sando Ehrat, the Chilean may once again find that he does not have things all his own way against the Australian. But it is still hard to see any outcome other than a Garin victory. Purcell is a hard worker and consistent from the baseline, but he lacks the power to hit through players who can move as well as Garin. The same cannot be said in reverse.
Prediction: Garin in 2
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