On what promsies to be an entertaining third day at the ATP Vienna Open, there are six intriguing matches on the slate and a number of star names are set to take to the court in the Austrian capital. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate, including Alexander Zverev vs Cameron Norrie. But who will book their slot in the next round?
ATP Vienna Day 3 Predictions
Jiri Lehecka vs Karen Khachanov
Head-to-head: Khachanov 1-0 Lehecka
Karen Khachanov handled Jiri Lehecka pretty comfortably at Miami this year, although that was before the Russian had to go on a three-month injury hiatus. He’s since picked up an ATP Tour title, but doesn’t seem fully back to his best yet. It was a good win against Roman Safiullin in the opening round though and likely a similar type of gameplan that he’ll have to employ here. Jiri Lehecka will be able to pressure Khachanov, but might come up short on consistency of his attacking play.
Prediction: Khachanov in 3
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Gael Monfils vs Daniel Altmaier
Head-to-head: first meeting
Gael Monfils won his 12th ATP Tour title in Stockholm last week, a truly sensational effort at 37 years old. It seemed like he might never return to this sort of quality again, but he’s actually been producing his best tennis on a pretty regular basis since the North American hardcourt swing. Will he have enough left in the tank after his run in Sweden? Given that he plays on Wednesday and is so much better indoors than Daniel Altmaier, he probably will.
Prediction: Monfils in 2
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Ben Shelton vs Jannik Sinner
Head-to-head: Shelton 1-0 Sinner
Ben Shelton defeated Jannik Sinner at Shanghai with the Italian a little weary coming off his Beijing title. It’s the same story in reverse here with the American now playing him not long after triumphing in Tokyo. Playing on Wednesday should help, but accumulated fatigue could be the deciding factor in a matchup that looks so close on paper. Shelton has improved his rally tolerance and tennis IQ so much of late, but it probably won’t be enough here against the deadly force that Sinner is indoors.
Prediction: Sinner in 3
Main photo credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
