Day 1 at the ATP 250 in Stockholm will see Round 1 matches take place, featuring four intriguing matches, such as the all-Italian clash between Luciano Darderi and Matteo Berrettini, #7 Tallon Griekspoor facing Pavel Kotov, and young Swiss prospect Dominic Stricker taking on American Aleksandar Kovacevic.
ATP Stockholm Day 1 Predictions
Aleksandar Kovacevic vs Dominic Stricker
Head-to-head: First meeting
It is always so hard to predict matches involving Dominic Stricker, and this one is no different. He’s very talented and has all the tools to be a very good ATP-caliber player, specially on indoor hard courts. But, at the same time, he’s seemingly always injured, and he retired up 5-3 last week against J.J. Wolf. The Swiss has only been able to play 18 matches this season and has only won 6. He’s a more talented player than Kovacevic and beat him on indoor hard courts at the Challenger level in 2022, but it’s just so hard to pick him to win a match right now. This could go in about a million different directions, but Kovacevic, despite being on a 5-match losing streak, should be more ready to get the much needed win.
Prediction: Kovacevic in 3
Marc-Andrea Huesler vs Lorenzo Sonego
Head-to-head: Huesler 0-1 Sonego
This has all the makings of another close match. Sonego beat Huesler in their only encounter and he is a more talented player, but Huesler is always a big danger on indoor hard courts, with his only ATP title arriving on the surface. Furthermore, he has looked great in qualyfing, dropping 4 games in 2 matches, even if against much weaker competition. Sonego is a streaky player and is yet to win a match since claiming the title at Winston-Salem, while the Swiss has 6 indoor hard matches under his belt already. That could make the difference in this one.
Prediction: Huesler in 3
Tallon Griekspoor vs Pavel Kotov
Head-to-head: Griekspoor 1-2 Kotov
This one is interesting, since Tallon Griekspoor is the more accomplished player, but Kotov has historically found succes in this matchup, with three wins in four matches, including Challenger level. This is actually a rematch of last year’s quarterfinals, where the Russian dispatched Griekspoor 7-6 6-2. However, Kotov is not having a gret year, and Griekspoor almost beat Zverev (again) in Shanghai. It could backfire, but Tallon to advance in 3 very close sets.
Prediction: Griekspoor in 3
Luciano Darderi vs Matteo Berrettini
Head-to-head: First meeting
Surely the easiest match to predict on paper. Darderi has had a great season, so great that he comes into the tournament as a seed. But Berrettini, when healthy, is one of the world’s best players. He would have the edge on clay, Darderi’s best surface, and he definitely has it on indoor hard courts, where his massive serve is an even more massive weapon. Darderi should be heavily overpowered in tis match, and he would need a horrible showing from Matteo to be able to win this one.
Prediction: Berrettini in 2
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
