The last seeded player fell in Gstaad on Saturday, sealing the fate of an all unseeded affair in the final. Pedro Cachin will play for his first ATP title, against a very experienced veteran Albert Ramos Vinolas. The Spaniard’s admirable defensive game helped him seal four ATP titles over the course of his career, and this is a good opportunity for the 35-year-old to pick up his fifth. Yet, Cachin is an underrated grinder himself, who made a name for himself playing Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon.
ATP Gstaad Final Prediction:
Pedro Cachin vs Albert Ramos-Vinolas
Head-to-head: First meeting
It’s relatively uncommon that an ATP final features a new matchup, so it’ll be interesting to see how both players strategize in this one. Both players are rather defensive on the court, but have the capability to hit some quality first serves. Cachin relies on a great kick serve, and Ramos Vinolas uses his lefty wide serve to his advantage. The Spaniard also tosses the ball extremely high, something that could cause his serve to be unpredictable in a good way. On the other hand, it could also break down under pressure.
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Both players have played solid tennis this week, but the edge certainly goes to Cachin. Cachin stunned Bautista Agut in the quarterfinals, grinding through a long two-sets featuring two tiebreakers. Ramos Vinolas dropped three sets en route to his match, but he also was able to seal some high-quality victories. The most notable one came against Lorenzo Sonego, where he fought through 6-4 in the third.
Cachin could definitely win this match by being aggressive and shortening points. Over time, Ramos-Vinolas will find ways to break down Cachin’s likely nervous tennis, and extending rallies will possibly expose Cachin’s nerves. The beginning of this match is also key. Cachin will have to surprise Ramos-Vinolas with some unanticipated shots, such as some drop shots or big forehands. Doing that will put pressure on Ramos-Vinolas, and that could make this final frankly a tossup. Yet, Ramos Vinolas gets a slight edge after all his success at ATP 250 level. He knows how to play in an ATP final, and he should be able to outsmart his opponent.
Prediction: Ramos-Vinolas in 3
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
