With the ATP Tour heading back to Europe after the successful completion of all four Grand Slams unlike last year, we’re now indoors in Metz headlined–by Miami Masters winner Hubert Hurkacz, home favorite Gael Monfils, and former World #1 Andy Murray.
ATP Metz Open Day 1 Predictions
Nikoloz Basilashvili vs Gianluca Mager
Head-to-head: 0-0
Basilashvili is no doubt one of the hardest players on the ATP Tour to understand. Ehen he’s good he’s pushing the very best in the world to the limit; when he’s not he’s barely winning games against players far below his ranking. Mager’s best surface is clay, and without a big serve to aid him on the hard let alone on indoor hard where it’s almost a must have, it’s going to be a huge struggle. Basilashvili without elements can be absolutely devastating with his big groundstrokes and unless he has an absolute shocker and beats himself, the Italian shouldn’t stand too much of a chance in this one.
Prediction: Basilashvili in 2
Philipp Kohschreiber vs Holger Rune
Head-to-head: 0-0
The talented 18-year-old Dane takes on an ATP Tour veteran over twice his age in the German who’s now 37. It’s fair to say Rune has had an absolutely stunning breakthrough year on tour with a handful of Challenger titles as well as qualifying for his maiden Grand Slams just a few weeks ago in New York in which he also took a set off Novak Djokovic in his first main draw match. The teenager has proved a lot of people wrong about how good he can be off clay and whilst the serve has a long way to go to be a huge weapon, I can see him continuing his good form here and getting the win.
Prediction: Rune in 3
Gregoire Barrere vs Vasek Pospisil
Head-to-head: 0-0
If you’ve never heard of Barrere, you’re probably not alone. The 27-year-old wild card, barely ranked inside the world’s top #150, only has 11 wins his career. Pospisil, on the other hand, is ranked a lot higher at #65 but has shockingly won just six of his last 19 matches–it’s fair to say he’s far from being in good form. If there is any saving grace for the Canadian, it’s that his last decent run on tour was in Sofia which was also indoors which he lost the final 7-6 in the third. No doubt indoor hardcourts suit him and if anything this is a good match for him to get into form for not only Metz but the upcoming weeks.
Prediction: Pospisil in 2
Marton Fucsovics vs Lorenzo Sonego
Head-to-head: Fucsovics 2-1
It’s not too surprising Sonego is ranked #24 and Fucsovics #41; they’re both evidently good players. When they are playing well they’ve shown in the past they can be a match for anyone. But both lack consistency and it’s hard to know what to expect from this match. Whilst Fucsovics leads the head-to-head 2-1, it was Sonego who easily won their last meeting which was on the clay earlier this year. On the clay that would somewhat be expected, as the Hungarian has struggled his whole career on that surface whilst the Italian has excelled at times. Now we’re on an indoor hard court. It’s an interesting one purely because Sonego should be able to hit through these courts, but Fucsovics is no doubt the better hard courter. It’s a hard one to pick but just like their only indoor hardcourt meeting in the past, Fucsovics should get another win here.
Prediction: Fucsovics in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
