It promises to be an exciting day of tennis at the ATP Marseille Open with seven intriguing matches on the schedule. As always we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match, including Richard Gasquet vs Laurent Lokoli. But who will book their place in the second round?
ATP Marseille Day 2 Predictions
Elias Ymer vs Gijs Brouwer
Head-to-head: first meeting
Despite being the younger man (albeit by only a month), Elias Ymer has the advantage in terms of experience coming into this match. The Swede has won 37 tour-level matches and played in a further 64. The Netherlands’ Gijs Brouwer, in contrast, has just eight tour-level appearances to his name, though he has won five of those matches.
Two of those wins came en route to the quarterfinals last time out in Rotterdam and he backed that run up by coming through the qualifying with wins over Sascha Gueymard Wayenburg and Raul Brancaccio, both in straight sets. Ymer, in contrast, has been in indifferent form. His game is also not particularly well-suited to indoor hard courts. All of which points to the Dutchman continuing his fine recent run of form.
Prediction: Brouwer in 3
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Maxime Cressy vs Geoffrey Blancaneaux
Head-to-head: Cressy 2-0 Blancaneaux
This will be an interesting test for Geoffrey Blancaneaux, but it is hard to see him getting anything out of this match. Maxime Cressy thrives indoors thanks to his huge serve and willingness to come forward, with the American in solid form of late after a run to the final in Montpellier. Blancaneaux did take a set off him in their most recent meeting, in Pau two years ago, but Cressy has improved in the interim, reaching a career-high ranking of world #31 and establishing as a reliable presence in the top 40. Blancaneaux, in contrast, currently languishes outside the top 150.
Prediction: Cressy in 2
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Arthur Rinderknech vs Leandro Riedi
Head-to-head: first meeting
Arthur Rinderknech can be a frustrating player to watch. The Frenchman does not lack talent, but he has not been able to find much consistency at this level. That said, this is a winnable match for him. He typically enjoys indoor tennis, with the courts giving him plenty of reward for unleashing his powerful flat forehand whilst Leandro Riedi is hardly a nightmare draw. The Swiss has potential, but at this stage in his career he has played only two matches at this level and he lost them both. Rinderknech is inconsistent enough that Riedi has a chance to win this match, but that chance does not look particularly encouraging.
Prediction: Rinderknech in 3
Main photo credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
