This week, the ATP Tour stops by the indoor 500 tournament in Rotterdam, with a stacked draw featuring Jannik Sinner, Holger Rune, Hubert Hurkacz, and Andrey Rublev. On day one, we’re here to predict some other exciting player’s results including Felix Auger-Aliassime and Lorenzo Musetti’s first round matches.
ATP Rotterdam Day 1 Predictions
David Goffin vs Dino Prizmic
Head-to-head: First meeting
In the eyes of many, Dino Prizmic is a hot prospect. An exceptional Grand Slam debut led to him losing to Novak Djokovic in the longest Grand Slam first round match the 24-time major champion’s ever played in his career.
It’s unsurprisingly easy to forget it’s still early days for the Croat. For the two top 100 wins he had last year (Lehecka, Machac), he also sustained some heavy losses (McDonald, Gasquet, O’Connell). David Goffin has tons of experience to counter Prizmic’s youth and will be well warmed up having come through qualifying.
Prediction: Goffin in 3
Milos Raonic vs Jesper De Jong
Head-to-head: First meeting
It’s tough to say whether or not Milos Raonic will be back to full health. Injury woes have plagued him for the last couple of years, having most recently caused him to retire against Alex De Minaur at the Australian Open.
Jesper De Jong isn’t to be underrated floating close to his career high of #135. Raonic at full health would be a monster indoors but, given how brittle the Canadian’s health has been recently, we’re tempted to back De Jong’s form at home against a likely-hampered opponent.
Prediction: De Jong in 2
Tallon Griekspoor vs Lorenzo Musetti
Head-to-head: Griekspoor 1-0 Musetti
Lorenzo Musetti has improved on hard courts over the last year but he’s still not a tour de force. This is only exaggerated indoors where fantastic serve and forehand combos reign supreme.
Unfortunately for the Italian, Tallon Griekspoor is great in this department. The Dutchman made the semifinals of here last year and we think he’ll bring that same form into this encounter against Musetti.
Prediction: Griekspoor in 2
Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Maxime Cressy
Head-to-head: 1-1
Generally, for all of his poor form, Felix Auger-Aliassime is still a different beast indoors. His serve is beautifully placed and allows him to win easy service point after easy service point in steady conditions. In Marseille though, Zhizhen Zhang beat him fairly comfortably, breaking the Canadian’s serve three times in a straight sets victory.
All it could take from Maxime Cressy is a couple of disruptive return games. The American might also be in poor form at the moment but there’s no doubt of his peak indoors. If both players are lacking in confidence, it’s Cressy that’s the more likely of the two to roll the dice in the bigger moments.
Prediction: Cressy in 3
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
