The pre Australian Open swing is in full flight with players seeking to start the year on a high. ATP action descends on Pune, India and it promises to be an action packed week. As ever, we at LWOT preview and predict all scheduled matches for you including Sebastian Baez vs Pedro Martinez.
ATP Pune Day 3 Predictions
Marco Cecchinato vs Tallon Griekspoor
Head to head – First Meeting
Tallon Griekspoor enter this match after taking out the seventh seed. The 26-year-old Dutchman is an exciting talent and hopefully 2023 is the year he truly breaks out on the tour. Marco Cecchinato too is coming off of a dominating win but it’s tough to see how his groundstrokes will match against the Dutchman. Expect Griekspoor to go through.
Prediction: Griekspoor in 2
Laslo Djere vs Maximilian Marterer
Head to head – Djere 1-0 Marterer
Hard courts wouldn’t be Laslo Djere’s strongest court but he’s still a very dangerous player in this week’s draw. Maximilian Marterer has done well to qualify and the tall German will be looking to serve well if he wants to proceed. That being said, the Serb is a quality opponent and he will probably be ready for anything the German comes up with.
Prediction: Djere in 3
Aslan Karatsev vs Tim van Rijthoven
Head to head – First Meeting
This is an interesting matchup between the young Dutchman and the clean hitting Russian. Aslan Karatsev will look to capture the same form that took him to the semifinals of the Australian Open a couple of years ago. However, he will have to navigate an inspired Tim van Rijthoven, who had his own breakthrough tournament at Wimbledon last year. Expect a tight match throughout with some clean hitting from both sides which will end with the Dutchman just clinching the tie.
Prediction: van Rijthoven in 3
Roberto Carballes Baena vs Marin Cilic
Head to head – First Meeting
Even at the age of 34, Marin Cilic is still a very potent player on all surfaces. The Croat is seeded one this week and it will take a standout performance from someone to take him out. He starts his campaign against the Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena who should not pose any significant threat to the superior baseline game of Cilic. Expect a routine win for the top seed.
Prediction: Cilic in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
