The second-round matches at the ATP Stuttgart Open will be concluded on Thursday. A gaudy list of top-seeded players will be in action, including Stefanos Tsitsipas and Denis Shapovalov. Three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray will also take center stage. Who will advance into Friday’s quarterfinals?
ATP Stuttgart Open Day 4 Predictions
Andy Murray vs Alexander Bublik
Head-to-head: Murray 2-1 Bublik
Andy Murray and Alexander Bublik met for the first time at Wimbledon in 2017, opening play on day one of the tournament. Bublik has been steadily fulfilling his teenage promise since that match. Both players got through their opening matches in Stuttgart in not too dissimilar circumstances. Bublik’s first-round win over Denis Kudla prevents Murray from avenging his loss to the American in Surbiton this past week. But nonetheless, the Briton’s decision to skip the French Open is yielding dividends and he should a slight favorite against the unpredictable Bublik.
Prediction: Murray in 3
Hubert Hurkacz vs Marton Fucsovics
Head-to-head: Fucsovics 2-0 Hurkacz
Hubert Hurkacz famously reached the semifinals of Wimbledon last year, taking down eight-time champion Roger Federer along the way. Surprisingly, Hurkacz didn’t win a single match on the grass at any lead-up tournaments prior to his exploits at SW19 last season. The scenario is slightly different this time. The 25-year-old comes off a decent clay-court season. Fucsovics has a winning record against Hurkacz, but the odds are clearly stacked against him in this matchup. The Pole has the greater surface advantage. And given how much the Hungarian struggled to put away World No. 139 Jurij Rodionov, it does not bode well for him.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 2
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Dominic Stricker
Head-to-head: first meeting
Stefanos Tsitsipas has taken a wild card entrant at the ATP Stuttgart Open. The top seed opens up against Swiss qualifier Dominic Stricker who will be looking to reach back-to-back quarterfinals at the tournament. Stricker tamed the big-serving Maxime Cressy in his first match in three tiebreak sets. For all of Tsitsipas’ talent, he has only managed to showcase it in dribs and drabs on the grass. Last season, he played just one match on the surface, losing to Frances Tiafoe in the first round of Wimbledon. However, the Greek should be well prepared this time. His early exit at the French Open could be a blessing in disguise and I fully expect him to produce a virtuoso display to quell doubts about his performances on the surface.
Prediction: Tsitsipas in 2
Nick Kyrgios vs Nikoloz Basilashvili
Head-to-head: Kyrgios 1-0 Basilashvili
Both Kyrgios and Basilashvili are as unpredictable as they come. But you can always bank on Kyrgios to put up a performance full of zip and energy on grass. On Tuesday, he did just that as he bludgeoned his way past Jiri Lehecka in straight sets. Basilashvili, for his part, was equally impressive in dismissing Lorenzo Musetti. Kyrgios will need his serve to be firing on all cylinders as Basilashvili is a player who can easily plant a seed of doubt with his hyper-aggressive returning. But I expect the Aussie to shade it in a closely-contested battle.
Prediction: Kygrios in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
