2015 ATP Draw Challenge Week 18 (Nice and Geneva)
Staff, Tennis Atlantic

The ATP Tour makes pit stops on clay in France and Switzerland with a pair of 250s before Roland Garros, and here are our expert picks.

Nice

Open de Nice Cote d’Azur Predictions

Steen Kirby’s picks

Round 2 matches: Simon vs, Kokkinakis, Coric vs. Tomic, Mayer vs. Pouille, Bemelmans vs. Monaco, Kyrgios vs. Thiem, Dolgopolov vs. Gulbis, Sock vs. Carreno Busta, Johnson vs. Isner

Quarterfinals: Simon vs. Coric, Pouille vs. Monaco, Thiem vs. Dolgopolov, Sock vs. Isner
Semifinals: Coric vs. Monaco, Thiem vs. Isner
Final: Monaco vs. Isner
Champion: Isner

Niall Clarke’s picks

Round 2 matches: Simon vs, Kokkinakis, Coric vs. Tomic, Mayer vs. Pouille, Querrey vs. Paire, Kukushkin vs. Estrella, Dolgopolov vs. Gulbis, Sock vs. Carreno Busta, Johnson vs. Isner
Quarterfinals: Simon vs. Coric, Mayer vs. Paire, Estrela vs. Dolgopolov, Sock vs. Isner
Semifinals: Simon vs. Paire, Dolgopolov vs. Isner
Final: Simon vs. Isner
Champion: Isner

Chris de Waard’s picks

Round 2 matches: Simon vs, Kokkinakis, Coric vs. Tomic, Mayer vs. Pouille, Querrey vs. Paire, Kyrgios vs. Thiem, Dolgopolov vs. Gulbis, Sock vs. Carreno Busta, Johnson vs. Isner
Quarterfinals: Simon vs. Coric, Pouille vs. Paire, Kyrgios vs. Dolgopolov, Sock vs. Isner
Semifinals: Coric vs. Paire, Dolgopolov vs. Sock
Final: Coric vs. Dolgopolov
Champion: Dolgopolov

Opinions are very mixed on this tournament, though John Isner is presumed to do well. Benoit Paire already lost to Juan Monaco, who could have a good week, and Borna Coric and Gilles Simon should also challenge if healthy.

Geneva

Geneva Open Predictions

Steen Kirby’s picks

Round 2 matches: Wawrinka vs. Rosol, Gabashvili vs. Haider-Maurer, Andujar vs. Berlocq, Dzumhur vs. Sousa, Bellucci vs. Tipsarevic, Ramos vs. Becker, Struff vs. Giraldo, Rublev vs. Cilic
Quarterfinals: Wawrinka vs. Haider-Maurer, Andujar vs. Sousa, Bellucci vs. Ramos, Giraldo vs. Cilic
Semifinals: Wawrinka vs. Andujar, Bellucci vs. Cilic
Final: Wawrinka vs. Bellucci
Champion: Wawrinka

Niall Clarke’s picks

Round 2 matches: Wawrinka vs. Lu, Delbonis vs. Haider-Maurer, Andujar vs. Berlocq, Dzumhur vs. Sousa, Bellucci vs. Tipsarevic, Ramos vs. Becker, Youzhny vs. Giraldo, Rublev vs. Cilic
Quarterfinals: Wawrinka vs. Haider-Maurer, Andujar vs. Berlocq, Bellucci vs. Ramos, Giraldo vs. Cilic
Semifinals: Wawrinka vs. Berlocq, Bellucci vs. Giraldo
Final: Berlocq vs. Bellucci
Champion: Bellucci

Jeff McMillan’s picks

Round 2 matches: Wawrinka vs. Rosol, Gabashvili vs. Haider-Maurer, Andujar vs. Berlocq, Dzumhur vs. Sousa, Bellucci vs. Tipsarevic, Ramos vs. Becker, Youzhny vs Giraldo, Rublev vs. Cilic
Quarterfinals: Wawrinka vs. Gabashvili, Andujar vs. Sousa, Bellucci vs. Ramos, Giraldo vs. Cilic
Semifinals: Wawrinka vs. Andujar, Bellucci vs. Giraldo
Final: Andujar vs. Giraldo
Champion: Giraldo

Chris de Waard’s picks

Round 2 matches: Wawrinka vs. Rosol, Delbonis vs. Haider-Maurer, Andujar vs. Berlocq, Dzumhur vs. Sousa, Bellucci vs. Tipsarevic, Ramos vs. Becker, Struff vs. Berankis, Rublev vs. Cilic
Quarterfinals: Wawrinka vs. Haider-Maurer, Andujar vs. Sousa, Tipsarevic vs. Ramos, Struff vs. Cilic
Semifinals: Haider-Maurer vs. Andujar, Tipsarevic vs. Cilic
Final: Haider-Maurer vs. Cilic
Champion: Cilic

Surprisingly, four different champions were picked this week by our analysts, and the top seed Stan Wawrinka was only picked by Steen. It really seems to be a toss-up in Switzerland this week as to who will claim the inaugural title at this tournament.

Week 17 Standings

Rome
1: Steen (270 points) (+1000 overall)
2: Chris (269 points) (+600 overall)
3: Niall (262 points) (+360 overall)
4: Joe (247 points) (+360 overall)
5: Jeff (244) (+180 overall)

In our narrowest margin of the season, Steen edged Chris by just a single point, and everyone did well this week given Djokovic was a consensus pick for champion, and took the title.

1: Steen: 8660 ranking points (+1000 points overall)
2: Niall: 6870 points (+360 points overall)
3: Joe 6800 points (+360 points overall)
4: Chris: 6000 points (+600 points overall)
5: Jeff: 5900 points (+180 points overall)

Chris edged out Jeff and broke the 6,000 mark, while Steen padded his lead and is now almost certain to still be in first place no matter what happens at Roland Garros in two weeks time.