Today we have action starting in both Munich and Estoril. Let us have a look at the first round match-ups and I will give you my predictions.
The odds are from Unibet. If you want to bet you can do so here.
We start with the young Frenchman Jeremy Chardy (ATP#46) who goes up against Russian Mikhail Youzhny (ATP#13). Their head-to-head (H2H) is 1-1 with two tight three-setters being played last year. Youzhny is playing much better this year so he is the favorite, but Chardy has a big game and is always dangerous. It is a tough one to pick this one. But getting almost 3 times your money on Chardy is a good deal. So I am going to put my money on Chardy.
Benjamin Becker (ATP#41) is only well-known for beating Agassi in the legend’s last match on tour. Other than that he hasn’t done match, but he is a competent player, especially on hardcourts. Stephane Robert (ATP#65) I have seen only once and I am curious why he is the favorite here. Maybe he is a bit more comfortable on clay? I still think Becker will win this.
Andreas Beck (ATP#83) and Dennis Istomin (ATP#83) is a tight affair in the 1986 age group. It is really impossible to predict this one. They have never played before and neither player have done anything spectacular this year. My pick is the home player, Beck.
Benneteau vs Petzschner is an interesting match. The Frenchman has a good game and has beaten Federer. Petzschner is intriguing because he has this backhand slice that he cuts like a knife. Petzschner is the odds favorite here, having had a decent year so far, but I still feel like Benneteau is the better clay court player.
Kevin Kravitz is an 18-year old German playing his first ATP match. Sadly for him he has to face really tough opposition in Berdych and I think he should be happy if he takes more than 5 games total. Berdych in two, but it is always nice to cheer for the debutant.
The odds are from Unibet. If you want to bet you can do so here.
Kunitsyn vs Clement is not a match that excites. I don’t really like Clement because he seems to have a pretty bad personality. At least I wasn’t impressed seeing him scream at ball-boys in Indian Wells a year or two ago. Kunitsyn in this one.
Granollers vs Hernandez two competent claycourters who is going to hit the ball a gazillion times over the net. Granollers is simply better at it.
Alejandro Falla vs Juan Ignacio Chela is the best match in Estoril today. Expect some heavy hitting and nice rallies from these guys. Chela has won a title this year so he is the favorite but I actually think Falla can win this one and at 3.40 I am going to place a bet.
Tavares is a Portugese player ranked 246 in the world and Mello is a Brazilian player ranked 94. Not a very exciting match. Mello.
That sums up the first day. It will be more interesting when Federer gets into action and it starts warming up a bit.
