Day 4 at the ATP event in Banja Luka will feature plenty of exciting action, including the debut of recent Monte Carlo champion Andrey Rublev, who will surely be very high on confidence after capturing the biggest trophy of his career so far. Despite its awkward place in the calendar, Banja Luka has a very strong field, headed by world #1 Novak Djokovic, and it should provide plenty of high quality tennis.
ATP Banja Luka Day 4 Predictions
Dusan Lajovic vs Gregoire Barrere
Head-to-head: first meeting
Both players showed a very good level in their first match here in Bosnia and Lajovic has been in very good form overall, getting plenty of high quality wins despite losing multiple times to the world #2 Carlos Alcaraz (three times this season already). On clay, Lajovic should have a clear edge in this match and win with relative ease.
Prediction: Lajovic in 2
Richard Gasquet vs Damir Dzumhur
Head-to-head: Gasquet 2-0 Dzumhur
It wasn’t that long ago that Gasquet looked like he was done at ATP level but here he is again, all the way back up to #42, close to being seeded in Slams again, and even winning a title this year already in Auckland. All of Gasquet’s 16 career titles came at ATP 250 level, he’s a force to be reckoned with at this level and might well be about to embark on another strong run this week.
Prediction: Gasquet in 2
Miomir Kecmanovic vs Abedallah Shelbayh
Head-to-head: first meeting
The 19-year-old Sellbayh has been playing very well so far here in Bosnia & Herzegovina, making it past the qualifying and the first round with some excellent tennis. However, Kecmanovic has been playing very well lately himself, as shown by his run to the final in Estoril, and he should be able to get the win here.
Prediction: Kecmanovic in 2
Radu Albot vs Jiri Lehecka
Head-to-head: Lehecka 1-1 Albot
At his best Albot was top 40 and won an ATP 250 title, but Lehecka has already surpassed that level and should be able to achieve even greater things soon given his current trajectory. Even if his game isn’t quite ideal for clay, he’s a very clear favorite in this match given what he’s showed on the surface so far this year.
Prediction: Lehecka in 2
Andrey Rublev vs Juan Pablo Varillas
Head-to-head: first meeting
On paper, Rublev would be the massive favorite here. But he’s just off the biggest title of his career so far and there’s a real possibility he could have a physical and mental letdown after such a monumental achievement. Varillas doesn’t have any big weapons, but he has enough solidity and consistency to punish Rublev if he’s off his game as is often the case for players after massive achievements.
Prediction: Varillas in 3
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
