The ATP Rotterdam Open, the first 500-level event of the year starts on Monday and boasts a line-up that would make the organisers at some Masters 1000 blush. There are four intriguing matches on the schedule on day one and, as always, we here at LWOT are offering our predictions for every match. But who will reach the second round in the Netherlands?
ATP Rotterdam Day 1 Predictions
Richard Gasquet vs Pablo Carreno Busta
Head-to-head: Carreno Busta 2-0 Gasquet
Richard Gasquet isn’t far from the level he brought to the tour as much as ten years ago. His recent title in Auckland was stark proof of that showing a little momentum was all it took to get his confidence back. In fact, one might even go as far as to say Gasquet is playing well enough to win this match against Pablo Carreno Busta.
The Spaniard has always been a little exposed on serve indoors, despite a generally impressive record on hard courts and, his copybook has recently been blotted by some very rough losses. To add to that, his sturdy cross-court backhand (surely his best shot) goes straight into the strength of Gasquet. Sure, it’ll be close but we’ll back the 36-year-old.
Predicton: Gasquet in 3
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Grigor Dimitrov vs Aslan Karatsev
Head-to-head: Dimitrov 2-1 Karatsev
After winning in Sydney at the start of last year, Aslan Karatsev has been nowhere to be found. A smattering of decent wins last year (Holger Rune, Brandon Nakashima, Dan Evans, Andy Murray) were completely outweighed by a flood of losses, his frustrations with his form plain to see as he grew increasingly irate with his camp during matches as the season progressed.
Grigor Dimitrov’s season was relatively average but he played well enough to keep his spot in the top 30. Couple this with the fact Dimitrov, at least at his best, is a fantastic indoor player who benefits from a bit of steadiness on his first serve and the chances of a Karatsev win look highly unlikely.
Prediction: Dimitrov in 2
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David Goffin vs Gregoire Barrere
Head-to-head: Goffin 2-0 Barrere
Gregoire Barrere has always been an immensely talented player–he’s finally starting to find the point construction and patience to turn that talent into results, his confidence allowing him to play flashy front-foot tennis. His biggest problem however comes in his lack of a big weapon.
This means he has been able to cut it against the majority of tennis professionals but when it’s come to defeating anyone in the top 50, he’s found himself fighting an uphill battle (5-24 career-record). Recent form for both players suggests it should be close but David Goffin’s top-50-worthy groundstrokes alone should be enough to ultimately outhit the Frenchman anx earn him a spot in the second round at the ATP Rotterdam Open.
Prediction: Goffin in 3
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Stan Wawrinka vs Alexander Bublik
Head-to-head: Bubik 2-1 Wawrinka
Did anyone else fail to notice Alexander Bublik’s nine-match losing streak? The Kazakhstani hasn’t won a match since October and boiled over after failing to kick off his title defence last week in Montpellier against Barrere. It’s hard to read into losing streaks like this however given how up and down Bublik can be. On indoor hard-courts, against Stan Wawrinka who isn’t exactly infallible himself at this very late stage in his career, this should be a good chance for Bublik to right the ship.
Prediction: Bublik in 3
Main photo credit: Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK