Day one at the ATP Stuttgart Open in Germany provided many compelling matches. Day two should be no different with a number of star names, including a certain three-time Grand Slam set to take to the courts in Stuttgart. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, including Andy Murray vs Christopher O’Connell. But who will advance?
ATP Stuttgart Day 2 Predictions
Maxime Cressy vs Dominic Stricker
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Although Maxime Cressy has just four career tour-level matches played on grass, his serve and volley style of play is perfectly suited for these courts. Currently ranked 67th in the world, Cressy started the season with 11 wins in three tournaments down in Australia but has since tallied just five victories over the past four months. 19-year-old Dominic Stricker is currently the 5th highest ranked teen in the world and is still easing his way onto the tour. The Swiss native is known as a clay-court ringer, but we all know the success the last great player from Switzerland had on the grass. I favor Maxime Cressy in this matchup and like the American to have a strong grass-court season.
Prediction: Cressy in 3
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Ugo Humbert vs Arthur Rinderknech
Head-to-Head: Humbert 1-0 Rinderknech
We have an all-French affair when Ugo Humbert and Arthur Rinderknech match up in Round 1 at the Boss Open. Humbert won their only previous meeting in a competitive three-set match last year in Marseille. Humbert has struggled mightily this season, having won just four main draw matches. With that said, he has a career record of 14-8 on the grass. I like the #8 seed to recapture some form during the month of June, starting with a decisive victory over his countryman.
Prediction: Hubert in 2
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Denis Kudla vs Alexander Bublik
Head-to-Head: Kudla 1-0 Bublik
Denis Kudla made a run to the Surbiton Challenger finals last week in his first grass-court tournament of the season. The American struggled during the clay-court season and will look to rebound on his favorite surface. Kudla has a career-winning percentage of 51.0% on grass compared to that of 30.6% on hard and 23.8% on clay. His opponent, Alexander Bublik, also fancies grass as his favorite surface. Bublik is just 1-6 in his last seven matches and should relish the change of surfaces. This one should be a back and forth battle, though I slightly favor the American due to his opportunity to compete in a grass-court event last week.
Prediction: Kudla in 3
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Lorenzo Musetti vs Nikoloz Basilashvili
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Coming off of a clay-court title at the Forli 6 Challenger, Lorenzo Musetti is looking for his first career main draw victory on the grass. This will be just the second grass match of the 19-year-old Italian’s early career. On the other side of the net, Nikoloz Basilashvili is looking to change his seasons’ fortunes with a strong grass campaign. The Georgian is one of the most streaky players on the tour but should fair well on these courts with his big serve and powerful forehand. As long as Basilashvili keeps his head in it, he should be able to best Musetti.
Prediction: Basilashvili in 2
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