2018 ATP Hamburg

Basilashvili and Berrettini Claim First ATP Titles in Hamburg and Gstaad
Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic

ATP Hamburg

By a score of 6-4 0-6 7-6 Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili claimed his maiden ATP title, lifting the Hamburg 500 crown against finalist Leonardo Mayer, a player who has made great improvements in his career standing thanks to the Hamburg tournament.

Basilashvili had to battle this week as he came through qualifying with a pair of wins. He then upset Phillipp Kohlschreiber on home clay in three sets, defeated accomplished clay courters Pablo Cuevas and Pablo Carreno Busta in straights, and then edged Nicolas Jarry in three sets in the semis. Against both Jarry and Mayer Basilashvili was bageled in the second set but won anyway as he showed streaky form this week.

Mayer defeated Albert Ramos, Gael Monfils, Diego Schwartzman, and Jozef Kovalik to reach the final, he needed three sets against both DSS and Kovalik, with the win against Kovalik coming in a third set tiebreak.

Peralta and Zeballos defeated Marach/Pavic in the doubles final, concluding the ATP 500 series on clay for 2018.

ATP Gstaad

Embed from Getty Images

In the Gstaad 250 rapidly rising Italian Matteo Berrettini claimed his first title, upsetting Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6 6-4. Berrettini completed the double this week as he won the doubles title with his Italian partner Bracciali against Molchanov/Zelenay in straights.

The 22 year old from Rome has built himself this season and last on the challenger tour and in qualifying. This tournament he got past Radu Albot, Andrey Rublev, Feliciano Lopez, and Jurgen Zopp without dropping a set. The final win meaning he didn’t drop a set all week despite being an underdog in a couple of matches.

RBA put in a solid performance defeated Jaume Munar in three sets, Taro Daniel in straights, and Laslo Djere in three sets to reach the final.

Right now Italian tennis is having a resurgence as Fabio Fognini, Marco Cecchinato, and Berrettini are in good form, particularly on clay, and should form a formidable Davis Cup trio in the ties to come.

ATP Hamburg 500 Favorites are Dominic Thiem, Diego Schwartzman, and Marco Cecchinato
Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic

The ATP Hamburg 500 is the final 500 level on clay for the season. Some of the ATP’s best descend upon Germany for a week of battles on the clay. Here is your preview, with predictions.

Top Half:

Dominic Thiem is the top seed and he’ll begin his quest for the title against Corentin Moutet. Moutet is no pushover on clay but Thiem should be renewed after a poor Wimbledon. Thiem should also be favored against John Millman or J.L. Struff in the second round. Bastad finalist Richard Gasquet should defeat Benoit Paire and Nicolas Jarry or Peter Gojowczyk to setup the quarterfinal matchup with Thiem as the favorite.

Embed from Getty Images

Pablo Carreno Busta is a good clay court player and should get past Florian Myer and Aljaz Bedene/Henri Laaksonen to reach the quarters. Phillip Kohlschreiber should get past Nikoloz Basilashvili and Marton Fucsovics/Pablo Cuevas to reach the quarters as well, where his run at home should end at the hands of PCB.

Embed from Getty Images

Bottom Half:

I have Diego Schwartzman falling in an upset against Casper Ruud, Ruud reached the quarters of Bastad and other than a nice run at Roland Garros, DSS has nod had the best of seasons. Ruud should beat Daniel Masur or Max Marterer in the second round. A finalist in Umag, Marco Cecchinato will be tested by Gael Monfils. GIven the fatigue factor I’ll back Monfils to beat the Italian and also Leonardo Mayer/Albert Ramos to reach the quarters, where he should be favored over Ruud.

Embed from Getty Images

Look for qualifier Jozef Kovalik to have a good week, Kovalik will open with Damir Dzumhur, who isn’t at his best right now. David Ferrer or Rudolf Molleker will be next, both players are struggling and thus the in-form Kovalik has the inside track. Gilles Simon should defeat Thiago Monteiro but the Fernando Verdasco/Dusan Lajovic winner has the edge in this section, and I have the Bastad semifinalist Verdasco reaching the semis in Hamburg.

Embed from Getty Images

Predictions

Semis
Thiem d. Carreno Busta
Monfils d. Verdasco

The tour veterans Monfils and Verdasco should face off in the semis, while Thiem has the inside track to lift the trophy at the end of the tournament.

Final
Thiem d. Monfils