Seven first-round matches are scheduled on day two of the ATP Marseille – Open 13 Provence tournament in Marseille. As always, we at LWOT will offer predictions for every match on the slate., inclduing Alexander Bublik vs Richard Gasquet. But who will advance to the next round?
ATP Marseille Day 2 Predictions
Luca Nardi vs Daniel Altmaier
Head-to-head: Nardi 1-0 Altmaier
Luca Nardi has shown improvement this season and is racking up match wins at the Challenger circuit. Reaching the final of the indoor Challenger in Koblenz earlier this month should help him on the fast indoor courts of Marseille. Daniel Altmaier made the most of the second chance in Rotterdam and got to his first-ever tour-level quarterfinals on indoor hard courts. That run should give a lot of confidence to the German player. However, there is a big difference between the court speeds in Rotterdam and Marseille and Nardi’s game is better equipped for the faster courts.
Prediction: Nardi in 3
Embed from Getty Images
Benjamin Bonzi vs Luca Van Assche
Head-to-head: Bonzi 1-0 Van Assche
Hard court is Benjamin Bonzi’s best surface, but add the indoor factor to it, and he becomes even more dangerous. Bonzi’s sole ATP title has come on indoor hard courts. He is also a former finalist at the Open 13 Provence, where he defeated Luca Van Assche in the first round. He will look to repeat the same scenario here and hope for another deep run. Van Assche enters this match as a lucky loser, and his recent form does not suggest he will trouble the Frenchman.
Prediction: Bonzi in 2
Zhang Zhizhen vs Quentin Halys
Head-to-head: first meeting
Zhang Zhizhen reached the quarterfinals in his only previous appearance in Marseille and will be looking to replicate or better that result. So far this season, the Chinese player has struggled with draws, with four of his five losses coming against top-15 players. Quentin Halys is by no means an easy opponent, especially on fast courts but he is struggling with form and fitness as he had to retire mid-match in his previous match in Montpellier. Playing on home soil should benefit him, but with his fitness in question and a tough opponent on the other side of the net, I can’t put my trust in him.
Prediction: Zhang in 3
Embed from Getty Images
Stan Wawrinka vs Nuno Borges
Head-to-head: Borges 1-0 Wawrinka
Stan Wawrinka is still in search of his first win of the season though he did come quite close against Daniil Medvedev last week in Rotterdam. Wawrinka displayed some vintage performance for a set and a half but faded after losing the second set. Maintaining a good level for a long time has been the biggest issue with the Swiss in the last year.
Nuno Borges is playing some of his best tennis and will look to extend this match and make Wawrinka play a lot of balls, just like he did in their last meeting. Wawrinka’s best bet would be to overpower the Portuguese and finish this match in straight sets. The fast courts will help him do that but only if he plays at a high level. I am leaning towards Wawrinka but won’t be surprised if he loses.
Prediction: Wawrinka in 2
Main photo credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
