The main draw for the ATP Astana Open has been set following the conclusion of qualifying matches on Monday. Tuesday’s action features some enticing matches and should make for a great day of tennis. Rising young star Lorenzo Musetti is in action, as are ATP tour veterans John Millman and Benoit Paire. Both the Aussie and the Frenchman are trying to finish strong despite poor years on the tour for both. Will the Astana Open be the first step towards righting the ship for either of them? We take a look at that and more in our ATP Astana Open day 2 predictions.
ATP Astana Open Day 2 Predictions
Ilya Ivashka vs Elias Ymer
Head-to-head: First meeting
On paper this looks to be a pretty one-sided matchup. Ilya Ivashka is fresh of a maiden ATP title in Winston-Salem and currently sits at a career-high ranking of #52. By contrast his opponent, Elias Ymer, has played the vast majority of his tennis this year on the challenger circuit. The Swede has failed to live up to potential the same way his younger brother has and is the clear underdog here. That being said, he has come through qualifying to book his place in this match. Understanding how the courts are playing is often a useful advantage to have. However, I don’t think it is enough of an advantage for Ymer to overturn the odds here. Ivashka is playing some of the best tennis of his career and loves playing on hard courts. He should move on comfortably here.
Prediction: Ivashka in 2
Lorenzo Musetti vs Marc Polmans
Head-to-head: First meeting
The Astana Open represents another chance for Musetti to prove that he can bring the same level of brilliance to faster courts and surfaces that he does to the red dirt. The young Italian has been able to mix it with the very best in the men’s game on courts where he has the time to build points and deploy his immense range of shots. However, he has struggled mightily on fast courts that do not allow him time to think nor properly prepare his shots. In Marc Polmans he faces a tricky customer who will enjoy the pace the courts in Nur-Sultan have to offer. He also has the advantage of coming through qualifying. Musetti is a talented young player, but tweaking his game so that it works on all surfaces will take time. He will get there, but he isn’t there yet and I think that spells an early upset in Nur-Sultan.
Prediction: Polmans in 2
John Millman vs Dimitry Popko
Head-to-head: First meeting
John Millman will be happy to see a relatively winnable first round draw in Nur-Sultan given his struggles this season. The Aussie has been a perennial Top 50 player and one of the tougher opponents on tour for years. However, he has very little to point to by way of success this season. Fortunately for the Aussie he has a great track record in the Astana Open, having lifted the title here last year. His opponent – Dimitry Popko – has the advantage of playing in his home country and having come through qualifying. He will feel confident of his chances of an upset here given those two factors. Nonetheless, Millman is a quality player due a good run of form. He enjoys the conditions here and this is as good a chance as any for him to get his season back on track. Expect him to start doing exactly that with a win here.
Prediction: Millman in 3
Benoit Paire vs Egor Gerasimov
Head-to-head: 2 – 0 Gerasimov
This isn’t a good matchup for Paire. Egor Gerasimov has beaten him twice, both times on hard courts. Their most recent meeting was this year at the Australian Open. Paire’s lack of willingness to play in bubbles and make an effort in general on the tour this year means he is almost certainly in worse form than he was then. That being said, the mercurial French star can turn it on at the flick of a switch and is capable of breath-taking tennis when at his best. Gerasimov will need to play consistently and stay in the match long enough to frustrate Paire and draw the inevitable errors that follow his frustration. That is no easy task, but I think Gerasimov will prove up to it again and emerge the victor here.
Prediction: Gerasimov in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
