2021 champion Alexander Zverev is top-seeded at the ATP 500 in Vienna this year and will kick off his campaign against former junior World No. 1 Joel Schwaerzler. It’s just the second ATP Tour main draw match for Austria’s biggest young hope as he’ll be attempting to do the unthinkable and eliminate the main favorite out of the competition. Who do you think will prevail?
ATP Vienna Day 1 Predictions
Flavio Cobolli vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Head-to-head: 1-1
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina still hasn’t done anything too interesting this season and for a player with his potential, a ranking outside the Top 50 just doesn’t really fit. Flavio Cobolli on the other hand is developing his game with every week. This time last year the Italian was helpless indoors and now he can produce in any conditions imaginable. It’s not clear-cut and they actually have plenty of similar strengths. But as one of them is so much more confident at the moment, he has to be the favorite.
Prediction: Cobolli in 3
Marton Fucsovics vs Matteo Berrettini
Head-to-head: Berrettini 2-1
Matteo Berrettini suffered a surprise exit to Dominic Stricker in Stockholm, but that was more due to the brilliance of the Swiss. It’s still a fantastic bounceback year for the Italian with his health improving ever so slightly. He’s done well in Vienna in the past, making the semifinals in 2019 and quarterfinals in 2021. As such, Berrettini will be the favorite over Marton Fucsovics here. The Hungarian has a knack for upsets though and we got a little taste at Wimbledon of how he can make life tough for this particular opponent.
Prediction: Berrettini in 2
Alexei Popyrin vs Jakub Mensik
Head-to-head: Mensik 1-0
Alexei Popyrin is still doing fine after that breakthrough Montreal title and while his results haven’t reached that level again, the quality of play remains solid. Jakub Mensik defeated him in Umag this year already, but that was a very disappointing showing from the Australian with unforced errors all over the place. Nonetheless, the 19-year-old played great to make it through the qualifying here. His combination of power and excellent scrambling might just cause Popyrin to falter again.
Prediction: Mensik in 3
Alexander Zverev vs Joel Schwaerzler
Head-to-head: First meeting
Austrian tennis knows who its next star is going to be and it’s wise to grant Joel Schwaerzler this wildcard. It’s just that drawing Alexander Zverev likely means experience is all he’ll be able to gather at this event. Especially as the 18-year-old has been so erratic recently, which is very unlike the smart, tactical performance he put in to become the first 2006-born player to win an ATP Challenger Tour title in May. The Jurgen Melzer protege will hit a few brilliant winners here, but he’s not consistent enough to trouble Zverev in the long run.
Prediction: Zverev in 2
Main Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
