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Querrey Stuns Nadal for Acapulco Title, Murray Strengthens Hold on World #1

Posted by Admin on March 7, 2017
Posted in: Acapulco, ATP, Dubai, Sao Paolo, Steve Fogleman. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Querrey Stuns Nadal for Acapulco Title, Murray Strengthens Hold on World #1
Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic

ATP Acapulco

29 year old Sam Querrey won the biggest title of his career and returned to the ATP top 30 after a stunning run in the Acapulco 500 level tour stop. Querrey made it nine career ATP titles with a masterful serving performance against Rafael Nadal, prevailing 6-3 7-6 in upset fashion over the fan-favorite Spaniard. Nadal struggled on return and in the second set tiebreak it was Querrey who was clutch.

Now 10-4 on the season, Querrey dropped sets against Kyle Edmund and fellow big server Nick Kyrgios on the week, while defeating top 15 players David Goffin and Dominic Thiem in straight sets to reach the final. His serve was strong all week, and perhaps the best match of the tournament was a showdown against Kyrgios where he was able to power past the young gun.

Kyrgios upset Novak Djokovic earlier in the week, after Djokovic had survived Juan Martin Del Potro’s challenge. Djokovic’s loss hurts his bid to reclaim the world #1 ranking anytime soon.

Nadal moved to 12-3 on the season after posting routine victories over Mischa Zverev, Palo Lorenzi, Yoshihito Nishioka, and Marin Cilic. Despite suffering a shocking defeat, Nadal still has a shot to equal his number of hard court wins last season (18), before the clay court season begins. Rafa has made big strides in 2017 and seems healthier, fitter, and more focused compared to recent years.

Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares defeated John Isner and Feliciano Lopez to take home the doubles trophy.

ATP Dubai

Andy Murray claimed his first title of the season and extended his hold on the world #1 ranking with a routine 6-3 6-2 victory against Fernando Verdasco in Dubai. Murray was unthreatened throughout the week, except for two sets of a thrilling contest with Philipp Kohlschreiber. Murray defeated Malek Jaziri, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, and Lucas Pouille with ease over the course of the week.

Kohlschreiber had more than a half dozen match points in a second set tiebreak that finished 20-18 in favor of Murray. The Brit conceded plenty of chances to the German veteran, but he as unable to take them. Kohlschreiber has always been talented, but hasn’t risen as high as he probably should have in his career because of losses like the one he suffered against Murray.

With two critical Masters 1000 tournaments coming up, Murray is looking to be in solid form compared to his main rivals at the top of the men’s game. AO champ Roger Federer was stunned in a third set tiebreak against Evgeny Donskoy in Dubai. Donskoy was far behind the Swiss legend, but he didn’t give up, and Federer outright choked in uncharacteristic fashion.

Fernando Verdasco, who made the semis in Doha, has really enjoyed playing in the Middle East this year. The 33 year old made the final with wins against Andreas Seppi, Roberto Bautista Agut, Gael Monfils, and Robin Haase. His wins against Haase and RBA came in three sets. It was the first hard court final in six years for Verdasco.

Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau defeated Rohan Bopanna and Marcin Matkowski in a doubles final that featured two teams of full-time doubles specialists.

ATP Sao Paulo

Pablo Cuevas awoke in Sao Paulo, snapping a four match losing streak dating back to January, and going to win the title in the Brazilian destination for a third straight time. The renewed 31 year old won the final stop of the Golden Swing in a Monday final 6-7 6-4 6-4 over Albert Ramos, after rain delayed the match on Sunday.

Cuevas posted victories over Facundo Bagnis, Diego Sebastian Schwarztman, and Pablo Carreno Busta as well, with his win over DSS revenge for a loss to him earlier in the season, and a very close three setter.  Cuevas now has six career ATP titles, all of them on clay where he plays his best tennis by far.

Ramos fell to 1-3 in career ATP titles, but made his fourth title by defeating Gastao Elias, Guido Pella, and Joao Sousa, needing three sets against both Pella and Sousa. The Spaniard’s spin remains a damaging weapon on clay courts, and he’s now 11-7 on the season after making the Quarterfinals or better of every Golden Swing clay court stop. He’s also one of the handful of players to take part in all four Golden Swing tournaments.

Home joy was felt for Rogerio Dutra Silva and his fellow Brazilian Andre Sa as they defeated Marcus Daniell and Marcelo Demoliner in the doubles final.

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2017 ATP Sao Paulo Preview and Predictions (@BrasilOpenTenis)

Posted by Admin on February 27, 2017
Posted in: ATP, Sao Paolo, Steen Kirby. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

2017 ATP Sao Paulo Preview and Predictions
Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic

The ATP Golden Swing wraps up this week with a 250 stop in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the country’s second ATP World Tour stop.

Brasil Open
ATP World Tour 250
Sao Paulo, Brazil
February 27-March 5, 2017
Surface: Clay
Prize Money: $455,565

Top 4 seeds (Who all receive first round byes) (ATP rankings in parentheses)
1: Pablo Carreno Busta (24)
2: Albert Ramos (25)
3: Pablo Cuevas (30)
4: Joao Sousa (39)

A lack of top 20 players will dampen enthusiasm for the Sao Paulo clay court tournament.

First round matches to watch:

Gerald Melzer vs. Victor Estrella

Melzer isn’t in bad form, but Estrella is a difficult opponent. The veteran won Quito and badly needs to finish the Golden Swing with momentum. This is a battle of steady dirtballers that is likely to go three sets.

(6)Diego Sebastian Schwartzman vs. Thomaz Bellucci

Schwartzman reached the semis in Rio, but trails Bellucci in the h2h, and the Brazilian is playing at home. The big hitting Bellucci could overpower DSS, but Schwartzman should be able to find his focus and reach the second round.

Top Half:

Rio finalist Pablo Carreno Busta is 6-2 on clay in 2017 and should ease past either a struggling Horacio Zeballos or Joao Souza to reach the quarterfinals. Italy’s Fabio Fognini should beat his countryman, qualifier Marco Cecchinato, while Italian Alessandro Giannessi should defeat Brazil’s Rogerio Dutra Silva to reach round 2. Fognini has a great opportunity to upset Carreno Busta to reach the semifinals, however PCB has a 3-0 h2h advantage, making him the favorite to reach the semis.

Pablo Cuevas has won two straight titles in Sao Paulo, he’ll go for a third straight with an opening match against Facundo Bagnis or Dusan Lajovic. The winner of Melzer/Estrella has a shot at the quarterfinals, but the Bellucci/Schwartzman winner should be the one in the quarters opposite Cuevas. Cuevas has been struggling, and DSS has a 3-1 h2h edge, Schwartzman should reach the semifinals from this section, ending Cuevas title bid.

Bottom Half:

7-3 on clay in 2017, Albert Ramos is in good form and should defeat Gastao Elias/Orlando Luz, and then face Thiago Monteiro in the quarterfinals. Monteiro has made two straight quarterfinals, and is playing at home in Brazil. He’ll open against Carlos Berlocq, a semifinalist in Buenos Aires. Monteiro’s round 2 opponent will be Guido Pella or qualifier Guilherme Clezar. Both players are struggling, as are Elias and Luz. Ramos will be the favorite over Monteiro and has a great shot at the title.

Federico Delbonis should defeat qualifier Jozef Kovalik, then face Rio semifinalist Casper Ruud. The young Ruud opens with fellow teenager Akira Santillan, despite his possible fatigue he should win that clay court match, then fall to Delbonis. Joao Sousa should defeat the winner of Inigo Cervantes/Renzo Olivo to reach the quarters as well. Sousa and Delbonis have split meetings, I give Sousa a slight edge to reach the semis.

Dark Horse: Thiago Monteiro

Brazil’s Monteiro has a great shot at winning a title on home soil. He’s posted solid results on clay this year, and has a reasonable draw, with Ramos and Sousa/Delbonis in his path to the final. Look for this young gun to make a run this week.

Predictions:

Semis
Carreno Busta d. Schwartzman
Ramos d. Sousa

PCB is in better form than Schwartzman, Ramos has a slight h2h edge over Sousa despite Sousa’s h2h win this season in Auckland. On clay Ramos is the favorite.

Final
Carreno Busta d. Ramos

PCB has a 2-0 h2h against Ramos and has a great shot at a third career ATP title after losing the final in Rio last week.

2017 ATP Quito Preview and Predictions (@EcuadorOpen250)

Posted by Admin on February 6, 2017
Posted in: ATP, Quito, Steen Kirby. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

2017 ATP Quito Preview and Predictions
Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic

The ATP Golden Swing on South American clay kicks off on the high altitude courts of Quito, Ecuador for a 250 stop drawing a good number of the ATP’s clay court specialists. Here is a preview, with predictions for the Ecuador Open.

Ecuador Open
ATP World Tour 250
Quito, Ecuador
February 6-12, 2017
Surface: Clay
Prize Money: $482,060

Top 4 Seeds (who all receive first round byes) (ATP ranking in parentheses)
1: Ivo Karlovic (19)
2: Albert Ramos (30)
3: Paolo Lorenzi (43)
4: Thomaz Bellucci (67)

Just one top 20 player is playing in Quito, making this quite an open field early in the season.

First round matches to watch:

Daniel Gimeno-Traver vs. (WC)Janko Tipsarevic

The 32 year old Tipsarevic has started the season in red hot form, going 10-0 at the Challenger tour level. After being awarded a wild card in Quito, he’ll face fellow veteran Gimeno-Traver, who also used to be ranked higher than he is now. Tipsarevic isn’t as solid on clay usually as the dirtballer DGT, but given his great  form, he should win this match, and perhaps make a deeper run in this 250.

Top Half:

Veteran Victor Estrella looks set to reach the quarterfinals, given his first two opponents will be a struggling Andrej Martin, and Ivo Karlovic, who is poor on clay, given the red dirt absorbs his powerful serves. Four dirtballers are in the section below VEB, Joao Souza faces qualifier Federico Gaio, while Gerald Melzer will face #6 Horacio Zeballos. None of these players are in great form, but Zeballos over Gaio is my pick to reach the quarters. Given Estrella leads Zeballos in the h2h, the Dominican #1 is my pick to reach the semifinals.

Thomaz Bellucci has struggled to start the season, this gives Janko Tipsarevic a great opportunity to defeat him and DGT to reach the quarterfinals. Santiago Giraldo should defeat Benjamin Becker, who is poor on clay, and then I have him defeating Renzo Olivo, after Olivo dispatches Emilio Gomez. Olivo has been solid below the tour level, but Giraldo is more experienced in ATP matches, and should play better at a high altitude. I have Tipsarevic defeating Giraldo to reach the semifinals.

Bottom Half:

A solid clay courter at the ATP level, Albert Ramos should be good enough to defeat qualifier Alejandro Falla or Alessandro Giannessi in his first match. 22 year old Thiago Monteiro has a favorable draw, opening with wild card Giovanni Lapentti, followed by either qualifier Roberto Carballes Baena, or Rogerio Dutra Silva. The matchup between RCB and RDS is a toss-up, but Monteiro is my pick for the quarterfinals, before falling to Ramos.

Paolo Lorenzi is coming off of Davis Cup duty and should face qualifier Agustin Velotti in round 2, presuming Velotti defeats Matthew Ebden, who is poor on clay. Fatigue could play a factor for Lorenzi, but otherwise he should reach the quarterfinals and face an Argentine, either Nicolas Kicker or Guido Andreozzi. Alexandr Dolgopolov is also in this section, but he’s been struggling for a while, and a win over serve and volleyer Rajeev Ram in round 1 likely isn’t enough to give him a boost on clay, a surface he’s hit and miss on. Lorenzi over Andreozzi is my pick in the quarters.

Dark Horse: Janko Tipsarevic

The formerly top 10 Tipsarevic has endured a rash of injuries, but is on the cusp of returning to the top 100. He has a shot at reaching 300 career tour wins this season, after posting seven last season. The draw in Quito makes the title ripe for the taking, and if the Serbian can find his form on clay, he could leave the tournament as champion.

Prediction

Semis
Tipsarevic d. Estrella
Ramos d. Lorenzi

Ramos should be fresher than Lorenzi, while Tipsarevic’s form gives him a slight edge over Estrella despite having lost their only h2h match. Ramos has won his last two matches against Lorenzi (2-2 h2h). Estrella is bidding for a third straight title in Quito, and that adds yet another wrinkle to a potential semifinal clash with Tipsarevic.

Final
Ramos d. Tipsarevic

It’s hard to predict a champion in Quito, but on clay, Ramos is as good of a pick as any from this field of 28.

2016 ATP Moscow Preview and Predictions (@tennisrussia)

Posted by Admin on October 16, 2016
Posted in: ATP, Moscow, Steen Kirby. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

2016 ATP Moscow Preview and Predictions
Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic

There are three 250 level stops on the ATP World Tour this week, it’s one of the final chances for the players of the ATP World Tour to earn points at the end of the 2016 season. The indoor hard court tournament in Moscow is the second of two ATP stops in Russia.

VTB Kremlin Cup
ATP World Tour 250
October 17-23, 2016
Moscow, Russia
Surface: Indoor hard
Prize Money: $717,250

Top 4 seeds (Who all receive first round byes) (ATP Rankings in parentheses)
1: Roberto Bautista Agut (19)
2: Albert Ramos (27)
3: Philipp Kohlschreiber (30)
4: Viktor Troicki (31)

Moscow doesn’t have a strong field but that does give a chance for lower ranked players to get a good result.

Top Half:

Shanghai finalist Roberto Bautista Agut gets a much needed first round bye, Wild card Konstantin Kravchuk is his likely round 2 opponent. Kravchuk faces qualifier Alexander Bublik in round 1. Presuming RBA isn’t exhausted, the Spaniard should slip into the quarterfinals to face another Spaniard, Pablo Carreno Busta. PCB opens with qualifier Jurgen Melzer, with Karen Khachanov or Damir Dzumhur to follow. Melzer is returning from injury, while PCB has been improving on hard courts this year. Khachanov is a home player to watch, he won Chengdu, but I still think PCB will knock him off in round 2. RBA over PCB is my pick for the quarters.

Viktor Troicki is 7-3 indoors this year and looks set to defeat either Daniil Medvedev or Mikhail Kukushkin in round 2. Medvedev, a young gun 20 year old, is in good form, but the experienced Troicki should reach the semifinals, after defeating a quarterfinal opponent, either Marcel Granollers/Stephane Robert, or Lukas Rosol/Gerald Melzer. Rosol over Granollers is my pick for round 2, Troicki should beat Rosol in the quarters.

Bottom Half:

Albert Ramos isn’t a great hard court player, but he still has a shot at defeating either Aslan Karatsev or Evgeny Donskoy. Ramos is just 9-13 on hard courts this year, Donskoy is struggling, but I have Ramos over Karatsev for a spot in the quarters. I have Paolo Lorenzi, who has had a career year, upsetting Fabio Fognini in round 2 before falling to Ramos in the quarters. Fognini faces Ricardas Berankis, while Lorenzi faces lucky loser Federico Gaio. This is an incredibly weak section for a hard court tournament.

A struggling Philipp Kohlschreiber just lost to Janko Tipsarevic, he will face Tipsarevic again if Tipsarevic faces Dusan Lajovic in round 1 . Russia’s own Andrey Kuznetsov looks set to make the semis, he opens with dirtballer Guido Pella, with Cem Ilkel or Thomaz Bellucci to follow. The big hitting Bellucci should fall to the more consistent Kuznetsov, and then Kuznetsov should beat Tipsarevic in the quarters.

Dark Horse: Konstantin Kravchuk

The wild card Kravchuk has had challenger success, if RBA is fatigued or slipped up he could translate that into a career best ATP result in a home tournament.

Predictions

Semis
Bautista Agut d. Troicki
Kuznetsov d. Ramos

RBA is the favorite in the top half while Kuznetsov should be the favorite to reach the final in a home tournament for him. RBA beat Troicki in the ATP Sofia final.

Final
Kuznetsov d. Bautista Agut

Kuznetsov has had some tough draws this year, this is not one of them, and the Russian has a great chance to win his first career ATP title.

Khachanov Wins First ATP Title, Berdych Boosts London Chances

Posted by Admin on October 3, 2016
Posted in: ATP, Chengdu, Shenzen, Steen Kirby. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Khachanov Wins First ATP Title, Berdych Boosts London Chances
Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic

ATP Chengdu

20 year old Karen Khachanov has played just 17 tour level matches this year, but the young gun Russian now has his first ever ATP title after he came back from a set down to defeat veteran Albert Ramos in the Chengdu final. Khachanov battled hard to prevail 6-7 7-6 6-3. He looked at ease on the surface, and in front of a loud crowd. Ramos for his part was playing in his first final in four years. The 28 year old normally prefers clay, but he continues to move up the rankings despite the finals loss.

Khachanov beat Joao Sousa, Adrian Mannarino, Feliciano Lopez, and Viktor Troicki dropping a set only to Mannarino on the week. Expect to see much more from this young Russian next season.

Ramos defeated Michael Berrer and Rendy Lu in three sets, Dominic Thiem in a straight set upset, and Grigor Dimitrov in a third set tiebreak, as a hungry Dimitrov was denied his shot at an ATP title.

Raaven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram combined for the doubles title over Pablo Carreno Busta and Mariusz Fyrstenberg.

ATP Shenzen

Tomas Berdych captured his first ATP title of the season and boosted his chances of qualifying for the World Tour finals in London with a hard fought win over Richard Gasquet. Berdych won 7-6 6-7 6-3, as he had a chance to close the match out in straights, but failed to do so. Gasquet battled back, but slipped up when it mattered in the third set.

We’ll look ahead to London soon, but in the meantime click here for a great look at the odds for the favorites to take the World Tour finals.

Berdych beat Mikhail Kukushkin, Jiri Vesely, and Thomaz Bellucci last week, Gasquet beat Andrew Whittington and Mischa Zverev before getting a retirement against Janko Tipsarevic in the semis.

Fabio Fognini and Robert Lindstedt won the doubles title over Oliver Marach and Fabrice Martin.

Karlovic, Ramos Capture 250 Titles. Klizan Continues 500 success in Hamburg

Posted by Admin on July 19, 2016
Posted in: ATP, Bastad, Hamburg, Newport, Steen Kirby. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Karlovic, Ramos Capture 250 Titles. Klizan Continues 500 success in Hamburg
Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic

ATP Hamburg

Martin Klizan won his second ATP 500 title of the season in Hamburg. In a big boost since returning from injury, Klizan upset Pablo Cuevas in straight sets 6-1 6-4, after defeating journeyman Stephane Robert in the semifinals in straight sets. Klizan also posted wins over Igor Sijsling, Louis Wessels, and Daniel Gimeno-Traver last week, all without dropping a set, with a textbook power tennis performance.

 

Cuevas beat Renzo Olivo, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Thiago Monteiro, and Florian Mayer this week, as he continued his great clay court season. Henri Kontinen and John Peers took home the doubles title over Daniel Nestor and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi.

ATP Newport

37 year old Ivo Karlovic served well for four straight matches and took home the title in Newport, adding a big result to his poor season overall. Karlovic defeated fellow big server Gilles Muller 6-7 7-6 7-6 in the final, after posting previous wins against Frank Dancevic, Marco Chiudinelli, and Marcos Baghdatis earlier in the week. Muller defeated Victor Estrella, Adrian Mannarino, and Donald Young to reach the final. Sam Groth and Chris Guccione beat Jonathan Marray and Adil Shamsadin in the doubles final. Karlovic continues to be a tremendous threat on fast surfaces.

ATP Bastad

Albert Ramos won his first ever ATP title in Bastad, upsetting Fernando Verdasco 6-3 6-4. Ramos beat multiple Spaniards last week in Sweden, Roberto Carballes Baena was his first victim, then he defeated Andrea Arnaboldi in three sets, and David Ferrer in straights to reach the final. Ferrer had never lost to Ramos before, but he upped his game, and his spin, to defeat his higher ranked countryman.

Verdasco defeated Henri Laaksonen, Albert Montanes, Facundo Bagnis, and Gastao Elias, all without dropping a set.  Marcel Granollers and David Marrero defeated Marcus Daniell and Marcelo Demoliner in the doubles final to make it all-Spanish champions in Bastad.

2016 ATP Gstaad Preview and Predictions @SwissOpenGstaad

Posted by Admin on July 18, 2016
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2016 ATP Gstaad Preview and Predictions
Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic

A nearly all European field headlines the ATP 250 on clay in Gstaad, as the European clay court season heads towards completion.

J. Safra Sarasin Swiss Open Gstaad
ATP World Tour 250
Gstaad, Switzerland
July 18-24, 2016
Surface: Clay
Prize Money: €463,520

Top 4 seeds (who all receive first round byes) (ATP ranking in parentheses)
1: Feliciano Lopez (20)
2: Gilles Simon (28)
3: Albert Ramos (35)
4: Thomaz Bellucci (49)

Lacking an elite name, the Gstaad field is rather wide open.

First round matchups to watch:

Elias Ymer vs. Daniel Brands

Yemer has lost three matches in a row, and he crashed out twice in home Swedish tournaments. Brands has a recent challenger semifinal on clay, though his power game lends itself to a faster surface. The younger Ymer still has a bright future, but I have Brands notching an upset.

(6)Fernando Verdasco vs. Horacio Zeballos

Zeballos recently won a challenger on clay, and could challenge Verdasco if the Bastad finalist is fatigued. The Spaniard is a heavy favorite though.

Robin Haase vs. Thiemo de Bakker

de Bakker is the #2 Dutchman and ranked about 30 spots lower than his counterpart Haase. These players know each other well, but de Bakker has been on a miserable losing streak, not having won an ATP match since Barcelona. With Haase playing slightly better, he should prevail.

Top Half: 

Top seed Feliciano Lopez doesn’t have a game well suited for clay, but he should still defeat a qualifier in his first match, either Yann Marti, a home favorite, or more likely Jan Mertl, to setup a quarterfinal match with Guido Pella. Pella comes off success in Davis Cup, and faces Konstantin Kravchuk, who is somewhat allergic to clay, in round 1. The clay specialist will then face the Brands/Ymer winner, on clay, Pella over Lopez is my pick in the quarterfinals. Pella is just 9-9 on clay this year, but he’s made a few deep runs including a final in Rio.

Although Juan Monaco, who also played Davis Cup this weekend, could pose trouble, Thomaz Bellucci is a two-time Gstaad champion and looks set to flourish once again at the tournament. Bellucci is a poor 12-10 on clay this season and in danger of falling outside of the top 50, but he had success in Davis Cup over the weekend while the oft injured veteran Monaco is a bit more unpredictable. He’ll open with serve and volleyer Dustin Brown in round 1. Bellucci vs. veteran Mikhail Youzhny is my pick for the quarters in this weak section. Youzhny isn’t in great form, but wild card Johan Nikles, and either Mirza Basic or Denis Istomin aren’t imposing on clay. Youzhny is 2-0 against Istomin with a retirement loss. Bellucci has a winning record as of late against Youzhny, while he’s tied 2-2 in the h2h with Monaco.

Bottom Half:

Gilles Simon looks set to face fellow veteran, and recent Bastad finalist Fernando Verdasco in the quarters. Simon will face qualifier Thiago Monteiro or qualifier Antoine Bellier in round 2, with Verdasco/Zeballos or Haase/de Bakker to follow. The Frenchman is 9-5 on clay this year, and although Monteiro is in good form, he’s a young gun with far less ATP main draw experience. Verdasco is sharper than Haase, but I see him falling short against the steadier Simon in the quarters, especially given the fatigue factor.

Bastad champion Albert Ramos should roll past either Radu Albot or qualifier Tristan Lamasine, with former Gstaad champion Paul-Henri Mathieu likely in the quarters. PHM only has to defeat Marco Chiudinelli, and Jozef Kovalik or Henri Laaksonen, none of whom are at his level on clay if he plays up to his capabilities. Ramos over PHM is my pick in the quarters, presuming Ramos isn’t overly fatigued.

Dark Horse: Thiago Monteiro

Monteiro is an incredible 34-14 on clay this year, with tremendous results on the challenger level, and recently, ATP main draw breakthroughs. This young Brazilian is sure to feature on ATP main draws for years to come, and he’s at his best on clay. He scored a win over another French favorite, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, earlier this year, and Simon could also fall when they face each other in round 2. Monteiro will grow into a well known name soon enough.

Predictions

Semis
Pella d. Bellucci
Ramos d. Simon

If Ramos continues his good form, he should defeat Simon, I have Pella playing slightly better than Bellucci, and getting into this final.

Final
Pella d. Ramos

This is a tough tournament to predict, but Ramos winning two matches in a row seems like too tough of an ask for the dirtballing spinner.