Whilst the best of the rest play in Australian Open qualifying, we have some stacked ATP 250 events to enjoy, in Adelaide and Auckland. Today, we’re making predictions from the event in Auckland where Cam Norrie, Arthur Fils, and Francisco Cerundolo are all in action. We also look at the rest of Auckland’s matches in a separate article. Who do you think will win on Wednesday?
ATP Auckland Day 3 Predictions
Taro Daniel vs Max Purcell
Head-to-head: First meeting
It was a great run in Cincinnati for Max Purcell but we can’t help feeling as though there’s something missing to the Aussie’s game. He doesn’t post particularly good numbers on return, meaning an average server in the top 100 probably has a bit of breathing room even with Purcell’s tricky baseline game.
Taro Daniel is probably a good enough server to keep things about even. Given the Japanese has been used to winning recently whilst Purcell hasn’t, we’re going to back him for a fairly comfortable win.
Prediction: Daniel in 2
Francisco Cerundolo vs Alexandre Muller
Head-to-head: First meeting
Francisco Cerundolo is an accomplished hard court player. The raw power on display to reach the semifinals and then quarterfinals of the Miami Masters in back-to-back years was jaw-dropping, as was his run to the title of the grass of Eastbourne.
At this stage of their respective careers, Cerundolo is the more comfortable player on this surface than Alexandre Muller. Cerundolo should be able to dominate proceedings in this one.
Prediction: Cerundolo in 2
Arthur Fils vs Nuno Borges
Head-to-head: Borges 1-0 Fils
Arthur Fils made the perfect start to his campaign in Auckland with an emphatic win over the defending champion, Richard Gasquet. Whilst there are still kinks to iron out in the young Frenchman’s game, he’s made a habit of frequently being the biggest hitter on the court, his last two losses coming to fellow huge forehands in Rublev and Medjedovic amongst seven wins.
Nuno Borges isn’t the most comfortable on a hard court so Fils should have no problems lacing the ball passed the Portuguese player over and over.
Prediction: Fils in 2
Cameron Norrie vs Luca Van Assche
Head-to-head: Norrie 1-0 Van Assche
Luca Van Assche’s game is getting bigger and bigger. A confident win over J.J. Wolf has set a mean precedent for this tournament. Last year’s finalist Cam Norrie may not be in the best of form but he does provide a good lefty counter to the 19-year-old’s forehand centric game.
Whilst the scoreline may be close, any holes in Van Assche’s game should be discovered under pressure by Norrie.
Prediction: Norrie in 3
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
