Expect plenty of exciting tennis on day two at the ATP Montpellier Open as regular tour action returns following the first Major of the year. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, including Hugo Gaston vs Denis Shapovalov. But who will secure their spot in the second round?
ATP Montpellier Day 2 Predictions
Maximilian Marterer vs Arthur Cazaux
Head-to-head: first meeting
This has the makings of a close contest. The 21-year-old Arthur Cazaux is already the higher-ranked man and is a player on the rise, but Maximilian Marterer has enough power to trouble Cazaux – particularly in these conditions. That said, Cazaux should be full of confidence after his excellent run to the fourth round at the French Open, which saw him pick up wins over Laslo Djere, eighth seed Holger Rune and Tallon Griekspoor before he ran out of steam against Hubert Hurkacz. If he can find that level again, he should have the beating of Marterer.
Prediction: Cazaux in 2
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Ugo Blanchet vs Gregoire Barrere
Head-to-head: first meeting
Ugo Blanchet does not exactly have experience on his side, having never previously played a tour-level match. But he might still have some momentum following his memorable triumph at the 2023 Mallorca Challenger in October. He has struggled to back that up since, however, and has not yet won a match this season.
Gregoire Barrere is also looking for his first win of the season having suffered disappointing defeats in the Auckland qualifying and the first round at the Quimper Challenger either side of a more understandable loss to Tommy Paul at Melbourne Park. But he is the higher-ranked man for a reason and, if he can find his best tennis or at least something close to it, should have the measure of Blanchet.
Prediction: Barrere in 3
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Pablo Llamas Ruiz vs Richard Gasquet
Head-to-head: first meeting
At his best, Richard Gasquet would surely win this match comfortably. However, we may already have seen the last of the Frenchman’s best tennis. That’s understandable for a player who turns 38 in June. He will still surely have the crowd right behind him and has shown flashes of the old brilliance, the issue for the former-world #7 is that he has lost half-a-step and a good deal of the power. With Pablo Llamas Ruiz having impressed in the qualifying, the Spaniard might just be well-placed to score a notable win – particularly if he can turn this into a physical battle.
Prediction: Llamas Ruiz in 3
Main photo credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
