Milos Raonic coming back after injuries is a neverending saga and here is its latest edition at the ATP 250 in Den Bosch this week. We haven’t seen the 2016 Wimbledon runner-up since Indian Wells and just like last year (although a round earlier), he faces grass-court specialist Jordan Thompson at the Libema Open. Who do you think will come out on top? We also predict the rest of the day’s matches in a separate article, featuring Sebastian Korda vs Tristan Schoolkate.
ATP Den Bosch Day 2 Predictions
Max Purcell vs Aleksandar Vukic
Head-to-head: Vukic 3-1
The two Aussies met on grass in Nottingham back in 2021, but Max Purcell had to retire 1-6 1-4 down in that match. Anyway, both of them have been struggling this year and will be looking at the grass swing as a chance to get back on track. Particularly Purcell, whose style with serve-and-volleying and plenty of slices off the ground suits the surface perfectly. But he’s also the one who’s been feeling a lot more lost this season and Aleksandar Vukic is the slight favorite here.
Prediction: Vukic in 3
Botic van de Zandschulp vs Mackenzie McDonald
Head-to-head: van de Zandschulp 1-0
Mackenzie McDonald is usually quite good on grass (two-time quarterfinalist at this very event), but the American is just coming back from an injury lay-off and picked up his first win of the season last week. These two matches in Surbiton on this surface can really help him out here though. Botic van de Zandschulp is currently on the verge of falling out of the Top 100 and this might be a great opportunity for McDonald to start building up some momentum.
Prediction: McDonald in 2
Roberto Bautista Agut vs Marc-Andrea Huesler
Head-to-head: First meeting
That high peak level still exists in Marc-Andrea Huesler’s game, even if he seems very far off winning an ATP Tour title again. But playing through the qualifying here should have given him some good momentum and you don’t want to face that lefty serve on a quicker court. Roberto Bautista Agut is a former Wimbledon semifinalist and maybe he can still channel that magic on grass. At this stage of his career, this might be more about the Huesler aggression though.
Prediction: Huesler in 3
Milos Raonic vs Jordan Thompson
Head-to-head: 1-1
This matchup happened in the second round of this very event last year with Jordan Thompson beating Milos Raonic in straight sets. The Canadian was coming back from a long break then and while it’s not as extreme now, he hasn’t played since Indian Wells. We have very little info in regards to his level and fitness and we can only really speculate. Thompson is a proper grass-court expert and if he hasn’t lost all his momentum in an expectedly poor clay swing, he’ll be a tough guy to beat here again.
Prediction: Thompson in 3
Main Photo Credit: Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
