One of the ATP Tour’s most popular and well-liked events will be held this week in Umag. The tournament features a lot of good clay court players looking to make a big run and maybe even win a rare title at ATP level. We predict all of Monday’s matches, split between this and a separate article.
ATP Umag Day 2 Predictions
Jakub Mensik vs Alexei Popyrin
Head-to-head: first meeting
Popyrin is the defending champion at this tournament, so this is definitely a happy hunting ground for him. However, there is also a lot of added pressure since his ranking will take a massive dive if he can’t repeat his run. His first round draw is extremely tricky too, he is facing one of the most promising young players in the world in Jakub Mensik. It was at this tournament that an 18 year old Carlos Alcaraz won his first career title back in 2021 and Mensik will be looking to have the same kind of breakthrough here, which he definitely has the talent to do.
Prediction: Mensik in 3
Filip Misolic vs Dusan Lajovic
Head-to-head: Misolic 2-0 Lajovic
Misolic won their two previous matchups, both on clay, so even if Lajovic is still the better overall player, this is definitely a much closer matchup than their respective rankings would suggest. Misolic definitely has enough ability to win here, but Lajovic is always a force to be reckoned with at these smaller clay events, it should be a very close match.
Prediction: Misolic in 3
Enzo Couacaud vs Matej Dodig
Head-to-head: first meeting
Couacaud has his moment of glory when he was the only player to take a set off Novak Djokovic at the 2023 Australian Open, but he hasn’t really done anything noteworthy since. Dodig is a young Croatian player with no real experience at this level, though, so in theory Couacaud should be able to pull through here.
Prediction: Couacaud in 3
Lorenzo Sonego vs Mili Poljicak
Head-to-head: first meeting
The young Croat has been playing really well at lower levels, but at this point in his career playing an established ATP player like Sonego should be a step too high for him. Poljicak will surely have his moments in this match and hit some highlights shots, but ultimately Sonego should make relatively easy work of this first round.
Prediction: Sonego in 2
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
