2015 Poznan and San Benedetto Challenger Previews & Predictions

2015 Poznan and San Benedetto Challenger Previews & Predictions
Chris De Waard, Tennis Atlantic

Poznan Open

ATP Challenger Tour

Poznan, Poland

13-19 July 2015

Red Clay

Prize Money: €64,000

Seeds (ATP ranking in parentheses)

1: Pablo Carreno Busta (67)

2: Joao Souza (81)

3: Lucas Pouille (96)

4: Radu Albot (108)

5: Daniel Munoz-De La Nava (109)

6: Matthias Bachinger (110)

7: Taro Daniel (125)

8: Albert Montanes (126)

The last direct acceptance is Ivo Klec, ranked 307th.

First round match-up to watch

(2) Joao Souza – Elias Ymer

Souza has been slumping ever since losing the titanic longest ever Davis Cup match against Leonardo Mayer 15-13 in the fifth set after six hours and forty-three minutes, back in March. Since then he has only won four matches, of which three in the same Challenger event at Prostejov. Ymer will be another tough customer for him. Ymer’s latest clay results include qualifying for Roland Garros and winning the Caltanissetta Challenger. There is a more than decent chance the second seed goes out here.

Top Half

Top seed Carreno Busta is the default favorite as always in these events and it’s almost a bit disappointing to see him keep playing these tournaments with his ranking as high as it is. Perhaps Taro Daniel or good old Albert Montanes can threaten him, but it’s unlikely that Carreno Busta will fail to reach the final.

Bottom Half

This half is very open, with various contenders who can make a deep run. Among them fifth seed Munoz-De La Nava, who is chasing an elusive spot in the top 100, Jason Kubler, Matthias Bachinger and Elias Ymer. Radu Albot and Inigo Cervantes are also in there with a good chance, but one of them will leave the tournament early, as they are facing each other in the first round.

Predictions

Semis:

Carreno Busta d. Daniel

Munoz-De La Nava d. Ymer

Final:

Carreno Busta d. Munoz-De La Nava

San Benedetto Tennis Cup

ATP Challenger Tour

San Benedetto, Italy

13-19 July 2015

Red Clay

Prize Money: €64,000

Seeds (ATP ranking in parentheses)

1: Daniel Gimeno-Traver (63)

2: Albert Ramos-Vinolas (65)

3: Benoit Paire (68)

4: Damir Dzumhur (88)

5: Paolo Lorenzi (89)

6: Blaz Rola (93)

7: Luca Vanni (113)

8: Maximo Gonzalez (115)

The last direct acceptance is Potito Starace, ranked 249th.

First round match-up to watch

(8) Maximo Gonzalez – Marco Cecchinato

A very tough draw for Gonzalez, as Cecchinato has reached the semi-final of four of his five last Challenger events on clay, with the fifth one resulting in a quarterfinal. Given Gonzalez’s more than shaky displays in his latest events, it’s more than reasonable to mark Cecchinato the favorite in this match.

Top Half

Top seed Daniel Gimeno-Traver should be able to come through here. His biggest threats are all drawn in the bottom half and he should be capable of dealing with the likes of Luca Vanni, Damir Dzumhur and Blaz Rola, all of whom have been in less than stellar form. A funny detail is that Gimeno-Traver is seated in a quarter which features solely Italians outside of him.

Bottom Half

Cecchinato should be able to dispatch Gonzalez in the first round, after which a tricky encounter against Matteo Viola awaits, who has suddenly found some form in recent weeks. Then Benoit Paire potentially awaits, who among Albert Ramos-Vinolas is the highest seed in this half. Paolo Lorenzi also lurks in Ramos-Vinolas’ quarter and is always a danger, especially in Italy. Perhaps Lorenzi can be marked a marginal favorite to get through, given that the other two have had some dodgy losses in their most recent Challengers for men of their rankings, with Ramos-Vinolas losing to Ymer and Montanes, while Paire lost to Dutra Silva in Milan three weeks ago. Lorenzi got double bageled in doubles with Enrico Becuzzi already, but this amazing passing shot from the 42-year-old legend should inspire him: