2018 ATP Sydney

Bautista Agut Continues Hot Form In Auckland, Medvedev Wins Maiden Title in Sydney
Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic

ATP Auckland

Whether at an exhibition or at the ATP level, Roberto Bautista Agut continued his roaring start to 2018 with his second career title in Auckland. He upset Juan Martin Del Potro 6-1 4-6 7-5, beating the Tower of Tandil by the narrowest of margins. RBA also won a close match in the semis, beating Robin Haase in a third set tiebreak in one of the matches of the season (already). He also beat Michael Venus, Steve Johnson, and Jiri Vesely on the week.

Juan Martin Del Potro posted impressive wins over Denis Shapovalov, Karen Khachanov, and David Ferrer, winning six straight sets before his defeat at the hands of RBA. He looks set to challenge at the Australian Open. Ferrer also found some much needed form in Auckland.

Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic defeated Max Mirnyi and Philipp Oswald in the doubles final.

ATP Sydney

Qualifier Daniil Medvedev rose up and won his maiden ATP title 1-6 4-6 7-5 over fellow young gun Alex De Minaur in Sydney. Despite home support and a one set lead, De Minaur succumbed to Medvedev’s groundstrokes in the end. The Russian won both his qualifying matches with ease, dispatched Philipp Kohlschreiber easily, then defeated Jared Donaldson in 3, Paolo Lorenzi in 2, and then Fabio Fognini in 3 sets.

De Minaur continued his incredible breakthrough to start 2018, he slayed Fernando Verdasco, Damir Dzumhur, Feliciano Lopez, and Benoit Paire to reach the final. Only Paire took a set off of him prior to the final. Both finalists will be trendy picks in Melbourne.

Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo beat J.L. Struff/Viktor Troicki in the doubles final.

2018 ATP Sydney Preview and Predictions: Simon and De Minaur Look to Continue Momentum
Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic

The Sydney International, a 250 on hard courts, is one of the final two ATP tournaments before the 2018 Australian Open. it doesn’t have an elite field by any measure but it is wide open for a new ATP champion to emerge.

Top Half:

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It’s a great draw for wild card Jordan Thompson, Thompson faces dirtballer Paolo Lorenzi, who hasn’t won a match since the US Open last year, then he should go up against top seed Albert Ramos, who isn’t the most comfortable on hard courts either. Gilles Simon was an effective brick wall in Pune, he took home the title and presuming fitness he should defeat Jared Donaldson. Given the fatigue factor I have him falling to Philipp Kohlschreiber in the quarters. Kohlschreiber had a solid year on hard court last season and he should be fresher than Simon and also better than Thompson.

Alexandr Dolgopolov played very well in Brisbane, winning a pair of matches and reaching the quarters. His first round opponent Viktor Troicki is struggling so he should win that and also defeat Italy’s Fabio Fognini, another streaky player on hard courts. Adrian Mannarino had a career year in 2017 winning 33 matches at the ATP level and he should build on that in 2018. I have Mannarino making a run, beating a qualifier, Alex Bolt/qualifier, and Dolgopolov to reach the semis.

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Bottom Half:

Wild card John Millman has a solid draw to look forward to, Gilles Muller continues to struggle and he’s the #2 seed. Millman should beat a qualifier and then Muller to slide into the quarters opposite Benoit Paire. I back Paire to defeat Aljaz Bedene and Mischa Zverev/Leo Mayer to reach the quarters. Paire played well in Pune reaching the semis. I’ll pick Paire to reach the semis, he certainly has the ability.

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Diego Schwartzman didn’t win a match in Brisbane, but Feliciano Lopez was disappointing on hard courts last year and didn’t start the year great either. I’ll back Schwartzman to reach the quarters opposite Fernando Verdasco. Verdasco has a tough opening match against Brisbane semifinalist Alex De Minaur who will have the fans fully in his corner. Fatigue should play a factor though, and Verdasco finished 2017 strong and played solid in Doha. Look for Verdasco to defeat J.L. Struff or Damir Dzumhur in round 2, and then Schwartzman in the quarters.

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Predictions

Semis
Mannarino d. Kohlschreiber
Verdasco d. Paire

Mannarino’s steadily improving and tricky game should earn him an ATP title this week in a wide open field. Verdasco has a great forehand against Paire’s amazing backhand and that match could go either way.

Final
Mannarino d. Verdasco