Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

ATP Antwerp Day 2 Predictions Including Marc-Andrea Huesler vs Francisco Cerundolo

Francisco Cerundolo in action ahead of the ATP Antwerp Open.

It promises to be an entertaining second day of tennis at the ATP Antwerp Open with six first-round matches on the slate and plenty at stake for all 12 players involved. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match, including David Goffin vs Gilles Arnaud Bailly, but who will secure their spot in the second round?

ATP Antwerp Day 2 Predictions

Constant Lestienne vs Jesper de Jong

Head-to-head: first meeting

It has been an encouraging few weeks for Constant Lestienne. Making the most of his slightly unusual technique, the Frenchman reached the last eight in San Diego and improved on that by making the semifinals in Tel Aviv. He was, however, well-beaten by his compatriot Arthur Rinderknech on his last outing in the second round in Gijon. Still, this looks like a winnable match for him.

Jesper de Jong may have a bright future and he looked sharp in the qualifying, beating Belgium’s Yannick Mertens and fourth seed Manuel Guinard, but he remains inexperienced at this level with this match set to be just his second at tour-level. It’s not unthinkable that he could win this match, but Lestienne will go into it the favourite and rightly so.

Prediction: Lestienne in 2
Embed from Getty Images

Botic van de Zandschulp vs Dominic Stricker

Head-to-head: first meeting

Botic van de Zandschulp has perhaps failed to kick on this season, at least as much as he might have done, but a record of 37 wins from 62 matches is impressive and he will no doubt be targeting a strong end to the season in conditions that should suit his aggressive style of baseline tennis. He has suffered some frustrating defeats of late however.

There may be no shame in being outclassed by Novak Djokovic (he took just four games off the Serb in Astana), but he should be beating players like Liam Broady. This is another winnable match for him on paper against a player who is still working to establish himself on the ATP Tour in Dominic Stricker. The challenge for the Dutchman is to ensure he doesn’t let this opportunity pass him by.

Prediction: van de Zandschulp in 3
Embed from Getty Images

Marc-Andrea Huesler vs Francisco Cerundolo

Head-to-head: first meeting

Marc-Andrea Huesler enjoyed the finest moment of his career (by a considerable distance) a fortnight ago in Sofia, winning his first tour-level title after a week which included victories over Pablo Carreno Busta, Lorenzo Musetti and Holger Rune. Perhaps unsurprisingly, returning to action only days later in Astana ended in a one-sided defeat against Emil Ruusuvuori, but he should now be refreshed.

He will need to be up against Francisco Cerundolo. The Argentine is at his best on the clay, but his clean ball-striking should also be rewarded on an indoor hard court with his forehand in particular a weapon to be feared. Still, if Huesler is able to redline his game as effectively as he did in Sofia, expect the Swiss to score another memorable win here.

Prediction: Huesler in 3

Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images

Share:

More Posts

Send Us A Message