Expect an entertaining second day at the ATP Bastad Open with eight first-round matches on the schedule in Sweden. As always, we here at LWOT are offering our predictions for every match on the schedule including Dominic Thiem vs Emil Ruusuvuori. But who will reach the second round?
ATP Bastad Day 2 Predictions
Albert Ramos Vinolas vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry
Head-to-head: Ramos Vinolas 1-0 Etcheverry
Tomas Martin Etcheverry is just getting his feet wet on clay, having played less than ten ATP matches on the surface in his as-yet brief career. Such a circumstance is not conducive to facing Albert Ramos-Vinolas, one of the most experienced clay-courters on tour. The last we saw the Spaniard on the dirt, he was pushing Carlos Alcaraz to the brink at Roland Garros. It has been a mixed year for Ramos-Vinolas, but it has included one clay title, and he adds to that a 13-6 record here in Bastad, where he was champion in 2016. Their only previous match last year was on clay as well, and the shrewd Spaniard is in good stead to take this one.
Prediction: Ramos Vinolas in 2
Embed from Getty Images
Hugo Gaston vs Nikoloz Basilashvili
Head-to-head: first meeting
This is a tough pick. Neither is having a good year, after both played well last year. Nikoloz Basilashvili usually plays well on clay, and has three titles in his career, but he has been sub-par this season. Stylistically they match up well, because Basilashvili is a heavy hitter while Hugo Gaston is extremely mobile and able to catch up with big strokes, especially on clay. And Gaston likes to attack, especially with drop shots, but Basilashvili is decent on the defense, and should be able to get to the drops if they’re not perfect. This is a coin flip, but I’ll go with the Georgian since he beat Rublev last month.
Prediction: Basilashvili in 3
Embed from Getty Images
Sebastian Baez vs Arthur Rinderknech
Head-to-head: first meeting
Sebastian Baez is a rising force, and he’s back on his favorite surface. The Other Diego Schwartzman has captured a title on clay this year, and made another final, as he sits at a career-high of #34 in the world. Arthur Rinderknech is neither accomplished nor experienced on clay, but it is worth noting that his ranking has improved dramatically this last year. However, the Argentine should take this, although I’m not quite comfortable calling this in two, because I’m afraid Rinderknech’s big forehand could dictate some of the rallies against his much smaller opponent.
Prediction: Baez in 3
Embed from Getty Images
Aslan Karatsev vs Lorenzo Sonego
Head-to-head: Karatsev 2-0 Sonego
Aslan Karatsev hasn’t looked right since his title in Sydney at the start of the season. He’s managed just six wins since, and is only 1 for 7 on clay. Lorenzo Sonego isn’t having a great season either, but he does like the clay, and is playing much better on the surface this year than Karatsev. The Russian’s two H2H wins came on hard court, one at the aforementioned Sydney, but his recent struggles lead me to believe the Italian will pull this one out handily.
Prediction: Sonego in 2
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
