Seven first-round singles matches are scheduled for Monday at the 2023 Moselle Open. Will ever-dangerous qualifiers like Calvin Hemery or Mathias Bourgue be able to do some damage? Luca Van Assche takes on Botic van de Zandschulp in what is going to be the last match of the day. Who do you think will come out on top?
ATP Metz Day 2 Predictions
Alexander Shevchenko vs Mathias Bourgue
Head-to-head: First meeting
Mathias Bourgue hasn’t scored a main tour win since Roland Garros 2016 when he famously lost to Andy Murray in five sets in the second round. He also hasn’t had many opportunities since, but he’s still an imposing player who can potentially redline and trouble someone much higher-ranked. Alexander Shevchenko tends to have issues in matches where he’s the favorite on paper, but if he can serve like he did in Basel he shouldn’t be falling behind Bourgue too much (and the Frenchman was struggling with a hip issue last week).
Prediction: Shevchenko in 3
Constant Lestienne vs Calvin Hemery
Head-to-head: First meeting
Calvin Hemery is back on the main tour after five years and holds a 2-8 record in tour-level matches. This is a reward for a pretty consistent season though as the peak performances of the Frenchman are getting less and less rare. But can he beat his compatriot Constant Lestienne, who has won three Challenger titles since August? Hemery was serving incredibly well in the qualifying and has the weaponry to put pressure on his opponent. We’ll see if he can step up mentally too.
Prediction: Hemery in 3
Harold Mayot vs Yosuke Watanuki
Head-to-head: First meeting
Harold Mayot was the player who ended Peter Gojowczyk’s career in the qualifying draw and will be trying to score his second tour-level win after Wimbledon this year. The 2020 Australian Open boys’ singles champion is ranked inside the top 200, but his track of progress has slowed down. Yosuke Watanuki plays that high-risk aggressive style which should suit Mayot pretty well and yet ultimately, the difference in quality and crazy shotmaking might just be too much.
Prediction: Watanuki in 2
Luca Van Assche vs Botic van de Zandschulp
Head-to-head: First meeting
As expected, Luca Van Assche isn’t really holding his own on the ATP Tour with just one win since Hamburg. Botic van de Zandschulp is a fairly okay draw for him. This is someone who probably won’t overpower and blow him off the court. The thing is that the Dutchman just recently started regaining his mojo, making the second round in Basel and third in Paris, both from qualifying. He’s never played here but should like the conditions and could be eyeing a deep run this week at ATP Metz.
Prediction: van de Zandschulp in 3
Main Photo Credit: Jerry Lai – USA TODAY Sports
