It’s been an incredible week of tennis in Munich, but we’re down to our final two competitors: Holger Rune and Botic van de Zandschulp.
Both players will be looking for their first ATP Tour title, so the pressure is on for both of them to snag their first main-tour crown.
Who will win and who will fall one match short of achieving their dreams of lifting the winner’s trophy in an ATP Tour tournament? Read on for my best guess!
ATP Munich Final Prediction
Holger Rune vs Botic van de Zandschulp
Head to Head: never played
Holger Rune has played incredible tennis in Munich this week. He’s made it through a tough draw, including wins over Alexander Zverev and Emil Ruusuvuori, without losing a set. In his latest victory, Rune beat Oscar Otte 6-4, 6-4 to make the final. Rune won 72% of his service points, compared to only 58% for Otte.
Botic van de Zandschulp has also had a very impressive run to the final. The Dutchman beat Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals and has now defeated the surging Miomir Kecmanovic from a set down to reach the final. Van de Zandschulp didn’t serve particularly well, but he was all over the Kecmanovic serve. Van de Zandschulp won 46% of his return points and broke serve six times.
These two have never played before. Rune’s very solid from both wings and he’s used the drop shot effectively, allowing the Dane to pull his opponent into the net on his terms and not letting that opponent get into a rhythm from the baseline. Van de Zandschulp is doing a great job of holding onto the baseline and winning the battle of court positioning.
I trust van de Zandschulp’s controlled aggression more than Rune’s and think he’s striking the ball at a different level compared to Rune. The Dutchman’s serve is also more reliable than Rune’s and he does a better job, typically, of giving himself free points and setting up short balls than Rune does.
Nerves will be present for both, but van de Zandschulp is the older, more experienced player and I think that he will be better able to handle his nerves.
Botic van de Zandschulp will be your 2022 Munich champion!
Prediction: van de Zandschulp in 3
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