Just one week away from the start of the French Open, players who need matchplay, tune up their form, or simply wish to maintain momentum head to the final warm-up events such as ATP Geneva. As always, we here at LWOT will preview and predict every match. Who do you think will win?
ATP Geneva Day 1 Predictions
Christopher Eubanks vs Benoit Paire
Head-to-head: first meeting
An interesting test for Eubanks, preparing to play his 15th professional clay match on the Challenger Tour or above. The American’s record is not great though he did manage to defeat a different French veteran, Richard Gasquet, at the Bordeaux Challenger last year. After the 27-year-old’s breakout run to the quarterfinals in Miami, he played a string of three Korean Challengers, reaching one semifinal and two quarterfinals with two losses to the newest Top 100 member Aleksandar Vukic and Jordan Thompson. After three seasons of very poor performance, Benoit Paire has been experiencing a resurgence on the Challenger Tour at 34 years old. The Frenchman won his first title since 2019 at the Puerto Vallarta Challenger and reached the final of the Francavilla Di Mare Challenger two weeks ago. If Paire turns up ready to play, he should be able to overcome Eubanks here.
Prediction: Paire in 2
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Ben Shelton vs Marco Cecchinato
Head-to-head: first meeting
In a similar match-up of an American power player without much clay experience against a European clay-court veteran, Ben Shelton comes up against 2018 Roland Garros semifinalist Marco Cecchinato. Shelton is entering his seventh tournament of this clay season with a 4-6 record. The American’s clay season highlight has to be his run to the semifinals of the Challenger 175 in Cagliari, beating Fabian Marozsan and Giulio Zeppieri before going a set up on eventual champion Laslo Djere. Shelton also came very close to beating Jan-Lennard Struff in the second round of Madrid before the German went on to reach the final. Cecchinato got off to a slow start on clay in 2023, going 2-4 across the Golden Swing and taking a loss to Vit Kopriva in his first match back in Europe at the Sanremo Challenger. The 30-year-old is 8-3 since, reaching the semifinals of Estoril, second round as a qualifier in Madrid, and the the third round in Rome. The Italian has notched wins over the likes of Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Roberto Bautista Agut, and Marton Fucsovics during this run. This will be a good test for Shelton and getting experience on the surface is his priority but I expect Cecchinato to grind out a win.
Prediction: Cecchinato in 3
Main Photo Credit: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK
