The rest of the first-round matches at the ATP Dubai Tennis Championships conclude on Tuesday. Big-hitting Matteo Berretini will face the fit-again Gael Monfils in the standout match of the day. We also predict seven more matches on the slate, including Daniil Medvedev vs Jan-Lennard Struff and Alex de Minar vs Marin Cilic. Who do you think will advance to the next round?
ATP Dubai Day 2 Predictions
Luca Nardi vs Marton Fucsovics
Head-to-head: Fucsovics 1-0 Nardi
It’s not often a successful qualifier plays a lucky loser whom he defeated in qualifying. This peculiar situation will happen on Tuesday. Marton Fucsovics won a tight straight-sets match against Luca Nardi to earn a main draw spot. In a twist of fate, he drew the Italian, who got in as a lucky loser, as his first-round opponent. Both players have done a lot of winning in under two months (13 wins each), but it is the in-form Fucsovics who is still unbeaten in the Middle East this season (won the Manama Challenger) that should prevail again.
Prediction: Fucsovics in 3
Andrey Rublev vs Quentin Halys
Head-to-head: Rublev 1-0 Halys
Andrey Rublev will need no reminding of his last trip to Dubai. He was disqualified from his semifinal match against Alexander Bublik for shouting at a line judge. But the World No. 9 arrives in the U.A.E. in positive spirits after winning his first title of the season in Doha. Only one of Quentin Halys’ five wins this season has come in the main draw. The Frenchman has done plenty of winning in qualifying and maybe that leaves him a bit underprepared for more difficult matchups. Still, if Halys delivers a strong serving performance, he’ll keep this close.
Prediction: Rublev in 3
Matteo Berrettini vs Gael Monfils
Head-to-head: Berrettini 3-0 Monfils
After an inauspicious start to 2025 with three defeats in four matches, Matteo Berrettini turned his season around in Doha. The Italian exhibited an elite level of play. He recorded his first-ever win against Novak Djokovic en route to the quarterfinals where he lost to eventual runner-up Jack Draper. By contrast, Gael Monfils was in red-hot form Down Under. The Frenchman lifted his 13th career title in Auckland and reached the second week of the Australian Open. Unfortunately for Monfils, his journey in Melbourne ended in a fourth-round retirement. He hasn’t played since because of a back injury. At 38, he’s not taking any chances and is slowly easing his body into the thick of top-level competition. That will likely help Berrettini in racing to a quick start in this match and extend his perfect record in the head-to-head.
Prediction: Berrettini in 2
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
