In a rematch of the 2022 final that ended after just seven games, Holger Rune and Botic van de Zandschulp are once again set to face off in the title match in Munich. Both men will no doubt be desperate to get their hands on the title with the French Open looming large on the horizon and, as always, we here at LWOT will be offering our prediction for the final. But who will come out on top?
ATP Munich Final Prediction
Holger Rune vs Botic van de Zandschulp
Head-to-head: Rune 1-0 van de Zandschulp
Rune arrived in Munich as the top seed and so far he has justified that position. The Dane opened his campaign in the Bavarian capital with a 6-3 6-4 win over home hope Yannick Hanfmann and he backed that up with a 6-3 6-4 win over Chile’s Cristian Garin. That set up a clash with surprise semifinalist Christopher O’Connell. The Australian, not known for his clay-court prowess, had beaten Ugo Humbert, Alexander Zverev and Flavio Cobolli to reach the last four, but was dismissed in straight-sets by Rune.
Van de Zandschulp, meanwhile, started his tournament with a dominant victory over former-Australian Open semifinalist Aslan Karatsev. He backed that up by beating Marcos Giron 7-6 6-3 to reach his second tour-level semifinal of the season (ATP Pune). There he faced the USA’s Taylor Fritz. The American came into the match in good form, fresh from his semifinal showing in Monte Carlo, but was well-beaten by van de Zandschulp who advanced a 6-4 7-6 winner.
This is a match Rune should be winning. That is not to say that van de Zandschulp’s challenge should be taken lightly. The Dutchman has established himself in the world’s top 30 and at his very best, has enough to win this match. But there is a reason that Rune is hailed as one of the future stars of the men’s game in a way that van de Zandschulp, eight years his senior, is not. If Rune can maintain the level he has displayed so far at the ATP Munich Open, expect him to have the edge.
Prediction: Rune in 3
Main photo credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
