ATP Round of 16 action begins on Wednesday in Stuttgart and sees multiple seeds in action for the first time. Matteo Berrettini is the day’s headliner, returning from several months off due to a hand injury. He returns on the surface where he made the Wimbledon final last year and will be keen on quickly getting his match fitness back to again challenge for the title in London. Wimbledon semifinalist Denis Shapovalov also takes the court as the #4 seed, and his powerful game will be on full display against Oscar Otte. Lorenzo Sonego and Jan-Lennard Struff have both been disappointed with their seasons to date, and will look to make the most of the short grass court swing. While neither player is a big name, Arthur Rinderknech vs Benjamin Bonzi may be the match of the day, with little to separate either player. The entire day’s matches have full predictions below!
ATP Stuttgart Day 3 Predictions
Arthur Rinderknech vs Benjamin Bonzi
Head-to-Head: 2-1 Bonzi
This should be a close battle as both players are similarly ranked and have little experience on grass. Both have been in good form and have each won Challenger titles this season. Rinderknech has a bit of an edge at tour-level recently, and captured a string of good results on hard court to start the year. There is not much to differentiate the two Frenchman results-wise, but Rinderknech has the surface edge. His height and corresponding big serve bodes well for the fast grass courts. Bonzi holds the edge in their meetings, but Rinderknech will rely on his serve to be enough to get through.
Prediction: Rinderknech in 3
Lorenzo Sonego vs Jan-Lennard Struff
Head-to-head: First meeting
Both players look to turn around a disappointing 2022 season. Sonego struggled to start the year before a strong third round appearance at the French Open. Struff will look to use his big serve to get back on track on grass after skipping the clay court season. Though the German’s big serve should be an asset on grass, it has historically been his worst surface. Sonego is a great grass court player, with an 11-6 career record and one of his two titles coming on grass. The Italian already has the advantage, and Struff comes in with almost zero momentum, losing eight matches in a row before a tight first round victory here. Sonego is a strong player even with a dip in form and has all the tools to hold serve and take advantage of mistakes by Struff to win convincingly.
Prediction: Sonego in 2
Denis Shapovalov vs Oscar Otte
Head-to-head: First meeting
Otte has had a solid first half of 2022, though he moves to grass where his only tour-level experience came at last year’s Wimbledon. Shapovalov struggled on grass to start his career, but compiled an impressive 8-3 record last year on the surface highlighted by reaching the semifinal at Wimbledon. The Canadian’s quick and powerful groundstrokes are a huge asset on the surface, making him a serious threat to win the tournament. His early struggles also underline the adjustment many players have to grass. Shapovalov’s large edge in experience on grass will play a part, as well as his powerful, strong game that will overwhelm Otte.
Prediction: Shapovalov in 2
Matteo Berrettini vs Radu Albot
Head-to-Head: 2-0 Berrettini
All signs on paper point to Berrettini aside from the uncertainty coming back from a hand injury. Hopefully, Berrettini is near 100% but waited to return on a less physical surface than clay. Berrettini excels on grass, winning Queen’s Club and making the Wimbledon final last season. Albot has had mixed results on the surface but has a career losing record on grass. He lost his one match on grass in 2022 and has lost three of his last four matches played. Berrettini is too good of a player to lose this match even if he is a bit rusty, so unless he has to retire due to the nagging injury, he should come back strong and win with ease.
Prediction: Berrettini in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
