Rising Marco Cecchinato the Star of ATP Umag Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic
Despite losing the World Cup final in Moscow, the fun loving nation of Croatia is ready to host another edition of the ATP Umag 250 on clay. Here is your look at all the action.
Top Half:
With the withdrawal of top seed Kyle Edmund, Albert Ramos will start in a reseeded position against Dusan Lajovic or Nikoloz Basilashvili. On clay I’ll back Ramos to edge Lajovic and reach the quarters. Guido Pella should be favored to defeat Taro Daniel, and Aljaz Bedene/Joao Sousa to reach the quarters opposite Ramos, with Ramos favored at that stage.
Andrey Rublev, the defending champ, is hoping to be fit as he returns to tour after a few weeks off due to injury. Rublev will face a qualifier or Felix Auger Aliassime, with Robin Haase, Nicolas Jarry, or a qualifier lurking in the quarters. I’ll pick a qualifier against Jarry in this section, with the Chilean Jarry emerging the winner, Rublev will likely have a slow return.
The bottom half features a relatively pedestrian (on clay) Damir Dzumhur facing either a struggling Paolo Lorenzi or journeyman Evgeny Donskoy. I’ll take Dzumhur to win the section and emerge opposite Marton Fucsovics or Benoit Paire. I have Fucsovics winning the quarter with wins over Paire and a qualifier, then Dzumhur.
Pablo Cuevas has played himself back into a bit of form and will open against Laslo Djere, presuming he can defeat the in-form Djere, he’ll face Max Marterer or wild card Nino Serdarusic in round 2. Marterer should win the section and end up opposite Marco Cecchinato in the quarters. The rising Cecchinato will be favored over Jiri Vesely/qualifier, and then Marterer in the quarters.
Cecchinato looks well positioned to lift this trophy after reaching the top 30, the Roland Garros semifinals, and lifting an ATP title on clay earlier this year.
Home Hero Stan Wawrinka Hopes to Capture The 2018 Geneva Open Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic
The Geneva Open, an ATP 250 on clay in Switzerland, is one of two final tuneups before Roland Garros, this small tour stop features veterans Sam Querrey, Fabio Fognini, Stan Wawrinka, and David Ferrer as the top four seeds. Here is your full preview with predictions.
Top Half:
Sam Querrey is in poor form but features in a section that features 2 qualifiers, Steve Johnson/Marius Copil, Guido Pella, and Jiri Vesely, all of whom are struggling. I’ll back Pella over Querrey with Johnson reaching the quarters with wins over Copil, and a qualifier. Vesely is currently in a challenger final and should be fatigued. Pella over Johnson is my quarterfinal pick.
The winner of Jared Donaldson/Denis Istomin will snap a long losing streak, then face home favorite Stan Wawrinka in round 2. With Wawrinka still slowly returning from injury, he should fall to Albert Ramos in the quarterfinals. Ramos needs to defeat Marton Fucsovics, then Frances Tiafoe/Ryan Harrison. Tiafoe has had a good clay season, but Ramos is more accomplished on the surface overall.
Bottom Half:
Rome quarterfinalist Fabio Fognini is a heavy favorite to win his section, as Marcos Baghdatis/qualifier, and Mischa Zverev is his likely path. Zverev should defeat Mirza Basic and Tennys Sandgren/Andreas Haider-Maurer but Fognini is the strongest player by far in this group, and he’s in the best form.
David Ferrer will begin against Peter Gojowczyk/Ivo Karlovic, I have him winning that before falling to Marco Cecchinato in the quarters. Cecchinato has found form on clay this season and should beat countryman Andreas Seppi, then Florian Mayer/qualifier before edging Ferrer in the quarters.
Predictions
Semis
Ramos d. Pella
Fognini d. Cecchinato
Semifinal #2 should be an all-Italian affair with Fognini grabbing the win, Spain’s Ramos looks set to reach the final as well.
Final
Fognini d. Ramos
Fognini should triumph ahead of Paris if he can back up his Rome results.
2018 Estoril Open features Stefanos Tsitsipas, Kyle Edmund and More! Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic
Tennis Atlantic is pleased to be able to provide some on-site coverage from the Estoril Open this week, a 250 on clay and Portugal’s only ATP event. Here is your full preview, with predictions.
Top Half:
Kevin Anderson starts his French Open prep with an opening match against Pablo Andujar or Stefanos Tsitsipas. It’ll be a tough match either way with Andujar a recent champ in Marrakech, and Tsitsipas a finalist in Barcelona. I’ll go with Andujar over Tsitsipas and Anderson in upsets. Roberto Carballes Baena takes on American Bjorn Fratangelo, the winner of that match should defeat Cam Norrie or Robin Haase to reach the quarters, with Andujar in the semifinals in my bracket.
Kyle Edmund will face either home favorite Gastao Elias or Alex De Minaur in round 2, Edmund, a finalist in Marrakech should win that match and get past Gilles Simon or Joao Sousa in the quarters. Simon opens with wild card Pedro Sousa, Joao Sousa takes on Daniil Medvedev, I have Edmund over Simon in the quarters.
Pablo Carreno Busta will face Nicolas Kicker or a qualifier, with Leonardo Mayer or Nicolas Jarry awaiting in the quarters. I’ll back Mayer to beat Jarry and Frederico Silva or a qualifier before falling to PCB. PCB comes off a solid semifinal showing in Barcelona.
Albert Ramos will be favored to win the third section of the draw, he opens with Federico Delbonis, a player in poor form, a qualifier awaits in round 2, with Gilles Muller/Frances Tiafoe/Tennys Sandgren awaiting in the quarters. I’ll go with Muller over Tiafoe, with Ramos winning the section.
Anderson looms over the field, but Carreno Busta should be favored to win the title, and I’ll go with Andujar in another dark horse run. He’s rebuilding his career after injury.
2018 ATP Marrakech Preview and Predictions: Clay Court Action Returns With the Grand Prix Hassan II Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic
The ATP 250 tournament in Morocco heralds the return of clay on the ATP tour as the race for the French Open begins anew. Here is your full preview with predictions for Africa’s only ATP stop.
Top seed Albert Ramos should be skilled enough on clay to defeat Amine Ahouda and J.L. Struff/qualifier to reach the quarters. At that point he should meet either his countryman Pablo Andujar, who comes off a challenger title, or Alexandr Dolgopolov. Both Dolgo and Andjuar are returning from injuries, and they open with qualifiers. I’ll go with Ramos over Andujar in the quarters.
Philipp Kohlschreiber is in good form as he takes on out of shape shotmaker Lamine Ouahab. Nikoloz Basilashvili takes on Matteo Berrettini in the other contest in this section. Kohlschreiber, presuming he’s fresh enough, should win it over Berrettini to reach the quarters. Robin Haase and Joao Sousa are options in the quarters, I’ll back Sousa over a qualifier and Haase/Mirza Basic before falling to Kohli.
Kyle Edmund has struggled in his return from injury thus I have him losing to Jiri Vesely in the opening round. I’ll back Andreas Seppi over Radu Albot and Vesely to reach the quarters coming off of Davis Cup. Paolo Lorenzi is my dark horse this week, he feasts on 250’s on clay like this and his path of Mischa Zverev, and Marton Fucsovics/Malek Jaziri is not overly imposing. Lorenzi over Seppi is my pick in the quarters.
The strongest section of the draw features Benoit Paire vs. Gilles Simon, with Paire as my choice. Roberto Carballes Baena vs. Max Marterer, Thomas Fabbiano vs. Richard Gasquet, and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez vs. a qualifier. Gasquet has struggled badly as of late but I’ll stick with him against Fabbiano and Garcia-Lopez. Paire should beat Marterer and Gasquet to reach the semis.
Predictions
Semis Ramos d. Kohlschreiber
Paire d. Lorenzi
I’ll go with Paire this week in a really open field. Kohlschreiber should be facing fatigue, while Ramos and Lorenzi may not be sharp enough.
Golden Swing Concludes With 2018 ATP Sao Paulo featuring Gael Monfils and Fabio Fognini Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic
The ATP 250 tournament in Sao Paulo, Brazil concludes the clay court golden swing in South America. A host of South American dirtballers will be joined by Gael Monfils, Fabio Fognini, and Albert Ramos in the hunt for an ATP title.
Top Half:
Top seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas has not had a great golden swing and really needs to get past Thiago Monteiro (or Guilherme Clezar) in the second round. Monteiro has had some unlucky results lately, and likely loses round 2 to Ramos. Chile’s Nicolas Jarry reached semis in Rio and has had a solid golden swing. He should keep it up against Dusan Lajovic, then defeat Guido Pella or Corentin Moutet in round 2. I’ll back Jarry over Ramos in the quarters given Jarry just beat Ramos in Rio.
Gael Monfils has posted 2 quarters and a semi in his golden swing efforts. He’ll open with Thomaz Bellucci or Horacio Zeballos. Presuming Monfils wins that and reaches the quarters he’ll face either Rogerio Dutra Silva or Nicolas Kicker. Kicker opens with a fading Victor Estrella, Dutra Silva faces Tennys Sandgren. I’ll back Monfils over both Brazilians (Bellucci and RDS) to reach the semis.
Fabio Fognini reached semis in Rio and should get past Renzo Olivo/Joao Domingues in his first match. Federico Delbonis should follow in the quarters. Delbonis faces a potentially unfit Roberto Carballes Baena in round 1. Gerald Melzer or veteran Guillermo Garcia-Lopez will follow. Fognini vs. Delbonis could decide the tournament champion in the quarters. I’ll go with Fognini to reach the semis.
Pablo Cuevas is playing well enough that he should defeat Marco Cecchinato/Sebastian Ofner, then Leonardo Mayer in the quarters. Mayer opens with Gastao Elias, Carlos Berlocq/Thiago Wild will follow.
Gael Monfils and Fabio Fognini aren’t the only possible champions in SP, but they should be co-favorites. Monfils has played the whole golden swing and should walk away with at least one title.
Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta and Albert Ramos Top Seeds at ATP Quito Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic
The ATP Golden Swing kicks off with a 250 on clay in Quito, Ecuador, Spanish players feature heavily in the field. Here is your full preview, with predictions.
Top Half:
Fresh off success in Davis Cup, Pablo Carreno Busta should be able to defeat Rogerio Dutra Silva/qualifier. PCB is in a weak section with Ivo Karlovic/Ernesto Escobedo/Corentin Moutet/Adrian Menendez-Maceiras awaiting in the quarters. None of those players have performed well on clay at the tour level, and PCB should roll into the semis.
Paolo Lorenzi looks good in his section, he faces a qualifier, Nicolas Jarry/Tommy Robredo or Stefano Travaglia/Pablo Andujar to follow. Andujar is returning from injury so Travaglia should be favored, Robredo could find form as a wild card, but Lorenzi over his countryman Travaglia is my pick for the quarters.
Albert Ramos should beat Roberto Quiroz/Yannick Hanfmann in the second round. Victor Estrella plays great in Quito, and I have him upsetting Thomaz Bellucci, and then Marco Cecchinato/Gerald Melzer to reach the quarters. VEB has beaten Bellucci three previous times in Quito. VEB should beat Melzer in the second round, and then I have him upsetting Ramos.
Gael Monfils takes on young gun Casper Ruud (or Carlos Berlocq) in round 2. Horacio Zeballos faces Thiago Monteiro, Peter Polansky or a qualifier will follow. I have Monfils beating Monteiro (and Ruud) to reach the semis.
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.
