After the incredible end to the ATP Shanghai Masters 1000, it’s time for the indoor season to start, with Brussels being a new tournament on tour generating a lot of expectations. The top seeds won’t be in action on Day 1 yet, but it should still be a very entertaining day of tennis in the Belgian capital, with some strong serving and fast indoor attacking tennis.
ATP Brussels Day 1 Predictions
Marcos Giron vs Mattia Bellucci
Head-to-head: first meeting
Neither player has been producing good results lately, with Giron actually on a three-match losing streak coming into this match, but they have a good opportunity here to get some momentum ahead of the last month of the season. Neither player is known for being particularly strong indoors, but Bellucci did have a great run at Rotterdam earlier this year, defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas and only losing in the semifinals to Alex de Minaur. He showed he is capable of producing some very strong tennis in these conditions and if he can replicate that sort of level he should be able to have a great week here in Brussels and should edge Giron.
Prediction: Bellucci in 3
Reilly Opelka vs Benjamin Bonzi
Head-to-head: Opelka 1-1 Bonzi
Bonzi has made some strides this year, notably beating Daniil Medvedev in back-to-back Grand Slam events at Wimbledon and the US Open, and he beat Opelka last week in Shanghai in straight sets. He looks to be in much better shape than Opelka, who is far from his best days and comes into this match on a four match losing streak. That said, with his enormous serve Opelka will never be easy to defeat on an indoor hard court and this match could well be decided by a few key points in tiebreaks.
Prediction: Bonzi in 3
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
