The ATP 250 in Umag may not be as star-studded as the Alcaraz/Sinner final we got last year but there are still plenty of exciting matches to watch, spanning the generations. Dominic Thiem and Marin Cilic are veterans battling for form in the draw whilst younger stars, Dino Prizmic and Martin Landaluce, promise to put on flashy performances in their matches. There’s lots to look forward to on the first day of action in Umag.
ATP Umag Day 1 Predictions
Duje Ajdukovic vs Dino Prizmic
Head-to-head: First meeting
Both Croats are very comfortable on clay but Dino Prizmic has shown so much promise from such a young age. The 18-year-old has already posted wins against Broady, Kovalik, Riedi and Cazaux to name a few, his shots clearly extremely heavy and difficult to break down. Duje Ajdukovic has had his fair share of big wins but Prizmic’s game is too alluring–we’re going for the younger of the compatriots in three.
Prediction: Prizmic in 3
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Alexei Popyrin vs Benjamin Bonzi
Head-to-head: Bonzi 1-0 Popyrin (ITF level)
For a guy with big weapons, Alexei Popyrin might seem like he enjoys playing on grass. His groundstrokes tend to sit up on the surface, however, and he doesn’t have a slice to keep the ball low. Pay no heed to his dodgy form as he’ll be right at home in Umag. The surface gives his heavy groundstrokes a bit more pop and his serve is big enough to set him up for some free points.
Benjamin Bonzi is way too out of form to compete with Popyrin in these conditions. The Frenchman has lost his last five matches without winning a set plus clay was never his favourite surface in his pomp.
Prediction: Popyrin in 2
Taro Daniel vs Martin Landaluce
Head-to-head: First meeting
It’s still early days for last year’s boys’ US Open winner Martin Landaluce. His first and last appearance at ATP level is still a little too fresh in the memory having lost to Richard Gasquet 6-2 6-1 last April. He’s clearly got the tools to compete–he might even light up for a set having learnt from his loss in Madrid–but Taro Daniel should exhibit too much quality for Landaluce at this stage in his career.
Prediction: Daniel in 3
Marin Cilic vs Flavio Cobolli
Head-to-head: First meeting
Marin Cilic is just coming back from six months off the Tour–the 20-time ATP champion has never taken such a long hiatus. Flavio Cobolli is actually a pretty bad match-up for Cilic if he’s feeling rusty. He’d likely prefer to go toe-to-toe with a hard-hitter, someone that will give him a bit of leeway in his service games. Cobolli will make plenty of balls to check whether or not the Croat is rusty.
Prediction: Cobolli in 3
Dominic Thiem vs Facundo Bagnis
Head-to-head: Bagnis 1-0 Thiem (Challenger level)
Dominic Thiem’s level comes in waves. We saw it in his match against Tsitsipas in Madrid, against Pedro Cachin at Roland Garros, against Tsitsipas again at Wimbledon, but he just can’t find his game in the pressure moments. Thiem should be able to overpower Facundo Bagnis’s lefty game on an average day, however–the Austrian is a healthy 26-17 against lefties on clay with eight of his losses coming to Rafa and the majority of the others coming in his first few years on tour.
Prediction: Thiem in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane/USA Today Sports
