There should be plenty of entertaining action on day three at the ATP Metz Open with a star-studded line-up set to take to the court. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule. But who will advance and who will fall to defeat?
ATP Metz Day 3 Predictions
Antoine Hoang vs Peter Gojowczyk
Head-to-head: Gojowczyk 1-0 Hoang
Antoine Hoang’s qualifying campaign at the ATP Metz Open began brightly enough as he beat Yannick Maden 6-2 6-4. But he then ran into Peter Gojowczyk, who got the better of him in three hard-fought sets. Hoang was then handed a late reprieve as a lucky loser, only to find himself up against Gojowczyk once again in the first round of the main draw. Hoang wouldn’t be the first lucky loser to take advantage of their good fortune and avenge their defeat in the qualifying. But Gojowczyk is an experienced operator and the conditions in Metz appear to suit his game well.
Prediction: Gojowczyk in 3
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Lucas Pouille vs Brayden Schnur
Head-to-head: first meeting
It has been another bitterly disappointing season for Lucas Pouille. The Frenchman, once ranked as high as world #10, has played just 17 matches at tour-level in 2021, winning a meagre four. In truth, injuries have left him a shadow of the player whose swashbuckling tennis won so many fans. But shadow or not, he has found a measure of form and fitness in recent weeks and this is a relatively kind draw, even after Brayden Schnur’s impressive qualifying campaign. On home turf and backed by a passionate crowd, Pouille should have the beating of the Canadian.
Prediction: Pouille in 3
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Vasek Pospisil vs Andy Murray
Head-to-head: Murray 4-1 Pospisil
This may not prove to be the best match of the day in terms of quality, but it is certainly the headline act thanks to Andy Murray’s involvement. The Briton made a winning start in Metz, battling past Ugo Humbert from a set down, but Vasek Pospisil has the weight of shot to trouble him – not to mention a very fine game up at the net. But the Canadian has also been worn down by injuries and is not perhaps as explosive as he once was. If Murray’s body holds up, expect the former-world #1 to eventually break Pospisil down even if he has to go the distance to do it.
Prediction: Murray in 3
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Lorenzo Sonego vs Holger Rune
Head-to-head: first meeting
Holger Rune continues to make impressive strides and this has been an excellent week so far for the Dane. He started it in the qualifying, beating the veterans Thomas Fabbiano and Philipp Kohlschreiber to reach the main draw, where he thrashed Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-0 6-0 in his opener. If Zapata Miralles was clearly not at his best, it was a very fine performance from the teenager all the same. But he may struggle to back it up against Lorenzo Sonego. The Italian is a top-25 player for a reason and, although his form has not been particularly sparkling of late, he impressed in dispatching Marton Fucsovics in the first round. He should be able to account for Rune.
Prediction: Sonego in 3
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Mikael Ymer vs Pablo Carreno Busta
Head-to-head: first meeting
Pablo Carreno Busta is often pigeon-holed as a clay-court specialist – largely, one assumes, because of his nationality – but his best results have come on hard courts. Admittedly, slower than those at Metz and outdoors rather than under a roof, but the Spaniard should still be comfortable with the conditions this week. He should also be comfortable coming up against Mikael Ymer. The Swede covers the court superbly, but he still lacks a little punch off the ground and it is hard to see him outlasting Carreno Busta in enough baseline duels to advance here.
Prediction: Carreno Busta in 3
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