The ATP Gstaad Open kicks off on Monday, and looking at the quality of the field, we will definitely get high quality tennis throughout the week. Among the Top 5 seeds, four have tasted title glory at this tournament before. Casper Ruud will be looking to get his rhythm back on his favorite surface. Matteo Berrettini, who couldn’t get a match at Wimbledon due to COVID, will be raring to get a few wins under his belt. However, the most accomplished player in this draw is none other than Dominic Thiem, who will try to build on the little momentum he gained at the Bastad Open. Ruud will be the favorite going into the tournament, but honestly, all of the top 6 have the weapons needed to win the whole thing.
ATP Gstaad Open Day 1 Predictions
Federico Delbonis vs Mikael Ymer
Head-to-head: Delbonis 0 – 1 Ymer
This clash is evenly matched, though Delbonis has been the better player recently. Ymer did pretty well at this tournament last year, and can be very dangerous on clay when his forehand is firing. Back him to come through.
Prediction: Ymer in 2
Tomas Martin Etcheverry vs Jiri Lehecka
Head-to-head: Etcheverry 1 – 0 Lehecka
Jiri Lehecka had somewhat of a breakthrough earlier this year, at the Rotterdam Open, but has fallen off the radar since. The duo have met once before, four months back on clay, when Etcheverry ended up winning in straight sets. This time though, I think Lehecka will bounce back.
Prediction: Lehecka in 3
Alexander Ritschard vs Joao Sousa
Head-to-head: Ritschard 0 – 2 Sousa
The pair have met twice before, with this meeting coming after a gap of nine years. Both times though, the result has been the same, with Sousa cruising to the win. Interestingly, in 2012 when Sousa played Ritschard for the first time, it was at this exact tournament. The past results point too heavily in favor of Sousa, and he should get the job done.
Prediction: Sousa in 3
Carlos Taberner vs Pedro Martinez
Head-to-head: Taberner 3 – 8 Martinez
The two Spaniards have locked horns 11 times, and Martinez dominates their head-to-head. Taberner does into the match as the favorite, but looking at their recent forms, both the players could be really shaky. Though clay is undoubtedly his best surface, Martinez won just one match in the whole clay season a few months ago. Still, he should be able to scrape though here.
Prediction: Martinez in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
