Top seed Novak Djokovic headlines Wednesday’s schedule at the ATP Geneva Open. The Serbian superstar surprisingly accepted a wild card from the tournament before his title defense at the French Open. He will mark his Geneva debut by facing Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann. We also preview the rest of the day’s matches in a separate article–including Casper Ruud’s campaign to win a third title here. So, who do you think will reach the quarterfinal?
ATP Geneva Day 4 Predictions
Sebastian Baez vs Roberto Carballes Baena
Head-to-head: Baez 1-0 Carballes Baena
This is a clash between two players who have consistently made their living off the dirt. Five of Baez’s six career titles are on clay, and Carballes Baena’s two ATP titles are similarly on the surface. Both of them earned solid wins in their respective first-round bouts. There is no denying that the Spaniard has a wealth of experience at tour level, but Baez is currently at the peak of his powers.
Prediction: Baez in 2
Taylor Fritz vs Alex Michelsen
Head-to-head: first meeting
Michelsen scored a fine comeback win over Kovacevic in his opening match. He made full use of the width of the court with his massive serve, which he only dropped once. He’ll need that shot to work perfectly against his more accomplished compatriot, Fritz. The 26-year-old American No. 1 continues to exceed expectations on clay, reaching at least the quarterfinals or better in his last three tournaments. As the third seed in Geneva, Fritz will fancy his chances of not just beating the 19-year-old but progressing into the final weekend.
Prdiction: Fritz in 2
Novak Djokovic vs Yannick Hanfmann
Head-to-head: first meeting
It’s unusual to see Novak Djokovic play a tournament in the last week before a Grand Slam. He’s only done it three times in his career. With a modest return of four wins in the leadup to Roland Garros, he took a late wild card into the Geneva main draw to accumulate additional mileage on clay. His opponent, Yannick Hanfmann, was forced to complete his first-round match over Andy Murray on Tuesday. He finished the match quite strongly, dropping just two games in the second set in a 7-5 6-2 victory. A win over Djokovic won’t just border on the absurd, but it will take the top seed’s season into crisis mode. With that said, Djokovic has always bounced back after a period of underperformance.
Prediction: Djokovic in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
