Day 3 at the ATP 250 event in Munich features three second round contests, as well as the one remaining opening round match. Holger Rune, Taylor Fritz and Alexander Zverev will all compete at the tournament, which was first held in 1900. Who do you think will prevail on Wednesday?
ATP Munich Day 3 Predictions
Aslan Karatsev vs Daniel Altmaier
Head-to-head: Altmaier 1-0 Karatsev (Challenger Tour)
Karatsev has struggled since achieving a career-high ranking of #14 in February last year, ending 2022 with a 17-29 record. The 29-year-old Russian – now ranked 129th – is 3-6 this year, with all of his tour wins coming in Pune in January. He earned wins over Robin Haase and Louis Wessels to qualify. Altmaier has lost seven of his eight ATP-level matches in 2023, but won the Sarasota Challenger on green clay last week. The World No. 93 holds a 10-17 tour claycourt record, while Karatsev is 14-16 on the surface. The lack of recent tour success for both players makes this difficult to call. While Karatsev has the higher peak level, he has performed well below it for some time. Altmaier’s confidence from his Challenger victory may help him through on home soil.
Prediction: Altmaier in 3
Flavio Cobolli vs Oscar Otte
Head-to-head: 1-0 Otte (Challenger Tour)
Cobolli earned his second ATP match win of 2023 by beating Jordan Thompson 7-5 6-1 in the first round of the ATP 250 event. The World No. 208 defeated Lukas Rosol and Zdenek Kolar without losing a set to qualify in Munich. The 20-year-old Italian had lost four of his last five matches at Challenger level coming into this week. Otte scored an impressive 6-3 7-5 upset over fifth seed Sebastian Baez in the opening round. The World No. 94 has won four of his 12 tour matches this season. The 29-year-old German should be buoyed after defeating Baez and his experience at this level will likely see him through.
Prediction: Otte in 3
Cristian Garin vs Lorenzo Sonego
Head-to-head: First meeting
Garin saw off German qualifier Marko Topo in straight sets in the first round in Munich to continue his impressive recent form. The World No. 86 is now 11-8 on tour this year after good showings in Indian Wells, Miami and Houston (where he made the last eight on clay). The 26-year-old Chilean has won five ATP titles on his favored clay, including at this event in 2019. Sonego has a 10-10 tour record this year after narrowly beating in-form Quentin Halys from a set down in the opening round. The World No. 45 fell to Daniil Medvedev in straight sets in the second round in Monte Carlo last week–his only other clay court appearance this year. Garin’s slightly better form and pedigree on clay may give him the edge at a tournament he has triumphed at previously.
Prediction: Garin in 3
Alexander Zverev vs Christopher O’Connell
Head-to-head: Zverev 1-0 O’Connell
Zverev has won half of his 20 matches this season since returning from the ankle injury he suffered at Roland Garros last year. The World No. 16 has had positive runs in Dubai, Indian Wells and Monte Carlo, but has not looked convincing in pressure moments. Clay is the 25-year-old’s best surface by win percentage (71.9%) and he has won six titles on the surface. O’Connell has a 6-7 win/loss ratio on tour in 2023, with three of his victories coming on clay. The 82nd-ranked Aussie downed Ugo Humbert 6-4, 6-4 in the opening round in Munich. The 28-year-old also reached the quarterfinals in Marrakech this month, as well as making the last four at the Split Challenger last week. Despite O’Connell’s form, two-time champion Zverev should be too strong again, after winning the pair’s first meeting in Dubai 7-5, 6-4.
Prediction: Zverev in 2
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
