Day three at the Halle Open promises no shortage of exciting action, with a number of big names including defending champion Borna Coric in action. But who will come out on top?
David Goffin vs Radu Albot (first on Stadion)
Head-to-head: Goffin 2-0 Albot
Goffin made a fast start to his Halle Open campaign, destroying eighth seed Guido Pella for the loss of just two games. The Belgian has been playing something close to his best tennis of late and will surely feel he has a real chance of manufacturing a deep run in Saxony-Anhalt. But Radu Albot is having an excellent season in his own right and impressed in dispatching grass-court specialist Matthew Ebden in the first round in three. But he has lost both of his previous meetings with Goffin, admittedly after close contests, with the Belgian’s ability to take the ball on the rise and inject pace into the ball having proven too much for Albot. Expect a similar outcome in Halle.
Prediction: Goffin in three.
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Karen Khachanov vs Jan-Lennard Struff (second on Stadion)
Head-to-head: first meeting
In a battle of the big-hitters, Karen Khachanov will take on the in-form Jan-Lennard Struff at the Halle Open. Khachanov has been playing some good tennis lately after a poor start to the season and will hope to put together a good grass-court swing. But Struff’s power ensures he is a challenging foe for even the best in the game and he looked very sharp beating Laslo Djere in the first round. This should be a close contest, but expect Struff, flushed with confidence and playing in front of his home crowd, to just about edge it.
Prediction: Struff in three.
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Pierre-Hugues Herbert vs Sergiy Stakhovsky (third on Stadion)
Head-to-head: Herbert 2-0 Stakhovsky
This match promises to be a throwback to an era of grass-court tennis centred around play in the forecourt. Both Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Sergiy Stahkovsky typically look to come into the net as much as possible and, as a result, this match should feature plenty of entertaining exchanges at the net. But there can be little doubt that it is Herbert, twice a doubles Grand Slam champion, is the better volleyer of the two. There is also a reason that he has won both their previous encounters and currently finds himself ranked 80 places above the Ukrainian.
Prediction: Herbert in two.
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Borna Coric vs Joao Sousa (fourth on Stadion)
Head-to-head: first meeting
Borna Coric may have made an impressive start to his title defence at the Halle Open, beating Jaume Munar of Spain in straight sets, but make no mistake Joao Sousa can play on the grass. He has not had the best of seasons, but qualified into the main draw in Saxony-Anhalt before dispatching Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets. His wicked sliced backhand and inside-out forehand are useful weapons indeed on a grass court. But Coric should have the defensive abilities required to negate his opponent’s attacking moves, though he will have to work hard for his win.
Prediction: Coric in three.
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