Clay season is finally upon us! It’s many a fan’s favourite time of the year and for good reason. Only the grittiest competitors will excel–our first day at the ATP event in Marrakech is no exception to that rule. with serial drop-shotter Hugo Gaston’s match against the hefty German Jan-Lennard Struff topping the billing. We’ve tried to predict who the sternest competitors will be on the first day of battle at the Grand Prix Hassan II.
ATP Marrakech Day 1 Predictions
Aslan Karatsev vs Francesco Passaro
Head-to-head: First meeting
It’s been a rough fall from grace for Aslan Karatsev. He essentially flipped his win-loss record of 37-20 in 2021 to 18-31 in 2022 and hasn’t looked much better this year, his only notable run coming in Pune against players without much hard-court pedigree. The Russian is still prone to loose runs of form which makes the transition to this surface particularly unforgiving for him.
Francesco Passaro is not the best man to be playing with that in mind. The Italian is a tough clay-courter and will be intelligent enough to play patient tennis here. It might be close but we foresee Passaro getting under Karatsev’s skin.
Prediction: Passaro in 3
Jaume Munar vs Elliot Benchetrit
Head-to-head: Munar 2-0 Benchetrit (all levels)
This would be some upset. Jaume Munar will let the opponent dictate play, so it’s very possible Elliot Benchetrit could light up for periods of the match.
For all the dips in Munar’s recent form however, it’s easy to forget he’s still an absolute nightmare to play on this surface. Benchetrit hasn’t shown us enough throughout his career to suggest he’s got the consistency to pull through here.
Prediction: Munar in 2.
Alexei Popyrin vs Younes Lalami Laaroussi
Head-to-head: First meeting
This is some mismatch in ranking. Younes Lalami Laaroussi is a 19-year-old Moroccan that joined the Top 1000 as recently as last year and he’s beaten three fellow Top 1000 players throughout his career.
He’s got the youthful exuberance to earn himself a few games, maybe even shock Alexei Popyrin for the best part of a set. The Aussie will settle however and has more than enough firepower to see this one through in straights.
Prediction: Popyrin in 2
Hugo Gaston vs Jan-Lennard Struff
Head-to-head: First meeting
This one could be the match of the first day. Both players have hit recent runs of form–Jan-Lennard Struff has won 11 of his last 14 matches and Hugo Gaston reached the final of the Challenger in Vina Del Mar last month.
With both players threatening to play close to their best, the advantage has got to go to Struff though. Don’t be fooled into thinking the German isn’t a competent clay-court player–his first-serve is damaging enough to be effective on all surfaces and his forehand packs a hell of a lot of weight behind it, kicking off of the red-dirt. Gaston has the potential to scrap his way to a set but all the percentages fall with the man 20cm taller than him.
Prediction: Struff in 3.
Main Photo Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
