Five main draw matches have been scheduled for Monday at the 2023 ATP Hamburg European Open. One of the local hopes, Daniel Altmaier, takes on Richard Gasquet in what will be the closing act on Centre Court. Who do you think will come out on top?
ATP Hamburg Day 1 Predictions
Luca Van Assche vs Alexandre Muller
Head-to-head: 2-2
They’ve played four times in different ATP Challenger Tour events over the past two years or so with every match being a straight-set win for either player. Luca Van Assche won the last two meetings, but does that guarantee him anything on Monday? Probably not, although it would make sense that his game is not that susceptible to Alexandre Muller’s playstyle. In Sanremo this year, the 19-year-old dropped just three games against him. Should be tighter here.
Prediction: Van Assche in 3
Thiago Monteiro vs Guido Pella
Head-to-head: Pella 4-2
Guido Pella leads the head-to-head 4-2, but most of these matches are ancient history. He did take out Thiago Monteiro in Indian Wells this year and is definitely the one in better form out of the two, despite his long inactivity a short while ago. He still plays a relatively light schedule and maybe this is an opportunity for Monteiro to get back on track. His performance in the qualifying didn’t seem to suggest so though and neither did the way Alexander Zverev thrashed him in Bastad last week.
Prediction: Pella in 3
Tomas Martin Etcheverry vs Laslo Djere
Head-to-head: First meeting
Both players are coming off opening-round losses last week with Tomas Martin Etcheverry going out 5-7 in the 3rd to Sebastian Ofner, while Laslo Djere opened up his match against Zizou Bergs by feeding the Belgian a bagel. It’s a tough one between two clay-court experts. Etcheverry played in conditions more similar to Hamburg last week, while Djere was featuring in an altitude event. If the Serbian throws away a set like in Gstaad, it won’t cut it against this level of opposition.
Prediction: Etcheverry in 2
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Daniel Elahi Galan vs Arthur Fils
Head-to-head: First meeting
Daniel Elahi Galan will need to raise his level quickly if he wants to go deep in Hamburg. The 27-year-old performed great at this event last year, but his qualifying campaign in the 2023 edition was an absolute mess. He easily could have gone out to Max Hans Rehberg in the opening round, before eventually making it in as a lucky loser. Arthur Fils has so much potential and it feels like he’s due a great match somewhere with a couple of mediocre showings recently.
Prediction: Fils in 2
Daniel Altmaier vs Richard Gasquet
Head-to-head: Gasquet 2-0
Richard Gasquet owns two head-to-head wins over Daniel Altmaier from two years ago, but time flies very quickly when you’re in such an advanced stage of your career as the Frenchman is. The veteran picked up a final appearance at a Challenger in San Benedetto two weeks ago, but was completely outplayed by Benoit Paire in the final. Someone who can grind his ass off on the clay like Altmaier sounds like a tough ask from Gasquet at the moment.
Prediction: Altmaier in 3
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
