We have a mix of first-round and second-round matches on Day 3 at the ATP Mallorca Championships. The Spanish contingent will be in full voice with four home players in action including 2017 Wimbledon junior champion Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. We also predict the rest of the day’s matches in a separate article. But who will advance?
ATP Mallorca Day 3 Predictions
Jason Kubler vs Constant Lestienne
Head-to-head: first meeting
Constant Lestienne’s first full season on the main tour has not been particularly enchanting. With no fewer than four retirements, his place inside the world’s Top 50 was short-lived. Although he made a decent run at the Surbiton Challenger this month, he arrives in Mallorca on the back of three successive defeats. Jason Kubler is in a ceremonious mood after hoisting the Ilkey Challenger last weekend. As long as he is unaffected by fatigue, Kubler looks poised to pick up his sixth win in a row.
Prediction: Kubler in 2
Adrian Mannarino vs Guido Pella
Head-to-head: Mannarino 1-0 Pella
Adrian Mannarno pulled off a seismic shock in the first grass court tournament this month. He defeated top seed Daniil Medvedev at the Rosmalen Championships. A week later, the Frenchman registered a comparable upset at Queen’s where he eliminated Taylor Fritz in straight sets. With two top-10 wins in as many days, Mannarino is not a name you want to see in your half of the draw. And Guido Pella will count himself unlucky to draw him.
Prediction: Mannarino in 2
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Corentin Moutet vs Roberto Carballes Baena
Head-to-head: Moutet 2-1 Carballes Baena
Corentin Moutet is a pesky customer to face when he plays anything close to his best tennis. His crisp ball striking limited Christopher O’Connell from showing any attacking verve in their first-round match. One of the names I didn’t expect to see in the second round is Roberto Carballes Baena. He beat Ilya Ivashka, which sounds like a great deal on grass. Moutet’s fitness was a major stumbling block in closing out matches, but beating O’Connell in straight sets extinguishes those struggles.
Prediction: Moutet in 3
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Pavel Kotov
Head-to-head: Kotov 1-0 Davidovich Fokina
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina succumbed to an early exit against Jiri Lehecka at Queen’s Club. The Spaniard showed genuine promise as a youngster when he won the 2017 Wimbledon junior’s title. He hasn’t been remotely close to making a similar imprint on the senior side. But it is imperative he gets a few wins under his belt before heading back to London. And on paper, he will be favored to ease into the second round. Pavel Kotov entered this tournament as a lucky loser. He flipped the script on Li Tu, the man who defeated him in the qualifying round at the weekend. Even though he defeated Davidovich Fokina in Astana last season, the Russian remains at large a novice on grass.
Prediction: Davidovich Fokina in 2
Main Photo Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
