The short clay court swing post-Wimbledon provides some much needed points for players to boost up the rankings before the last Grand Slam begins. So far the ATP action in Hamburg, Germany has been riveting and we still have a long way to go to the end. As ever, we at LWOT preview and predict all six clashes for you, spread over two articles.
ATP Hamburg Day 3 Predictions
Luca Van Assche vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Head to head – Assche 0-2 Fokina
It will be interesting to see how Alejandro Davidovich Fokina bounces back after a very disappointing loss at Wimbledon. Perhaps what will work in his favour is the fact that he plays his best on the clay courts and has started well. Luca Van Assche is an up-and-coming player on the tour and while his first-round win was a decent performance, the young Frenchman will struggle against the consistency and quality that Fokina brings to the court.
Prediction: Davidovich Fokina in 2
Sebastian Baez vs Casper Ruud
Head to head – Baez 0-1 Ruud
This is a tough opening round for the Argentine Sebastian Baez, who is a pretty decent player on a clay court, but he takes on an opponent who is pretty well versed in winning titles at this level on the surface. Casper Ruud is playing on his favorite surface and his results speak volumes about his talent on this surface. The Norwegian will be disappointed with the loss in the final last week and he will be looking to make amends by making a strong start here.
Prediction: Ruud in 2
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Bernabe Zapata Miralles vs Andrey Rublev
Head to head – First Meeting
Andrey Rublev is on a fantastic run in the past couple of tournaments he has played. The Russian backed up his quarterfinal showing at Wimbledon with a title run last week. He will be looking to continue the fine form he has shown by making short work of the Spaniard Bernabe Zapata Miralles in their first ever meeting.
Prediction: Rublev in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
