Three singles matches kick off main draw action at the 2023 Open 13 Provence in Marseille. Alexander Bublik will try to seek his first win of the year, while Benjamin Bonzi takes on Luca van Assche in an all-French clash. Meanwhile, Stan Wawrinka tries to follow up his good run in Rotterdam. Who do you think will come out on top?
Alexander Bublik vs Filip Krajinovic
Head-to-head: Bublik 1-0
Alexander Bublik hasn’t won yet in 2023, losing eight consecutive matches (ten along with his finish to 2023). When he had the chance to beat Gregoire Barrere in Montpellier, he committed three double faults in the deciding set tie-break. Mentally, he’s going to be even more of a mess than usual. But this is his best chance yet this season as most of his opponents were much stronger or he played them in unfavorable conditions (Davis Cup against Chile). Filip Krajinovic isn’t at his best right now either and Bublik’s weaponry could suffice indoors.
Prediction: Bublik in 3
Benjamin Bonzi vs Luca van Assche
Head-to-head: Bonzi 1-0
Luca van Assche will probably sneak his way into the top 100 this year, but he hasn’t started 2023 all that well. The 18-year-old isn’t too explosive and hasn’t grabbed a main tour win yet. It’s not going to be easy against Benjamin Bonzi, although he did push him in the quarterfinals at Cassis about 17 months ago, despite being a junior at the time. Indoors, the serve and attacking arsenal of the older Frenchman might give him a big advantage.
Prediction: Bonzi in 3
Stan Wawrinka vs Zizou Bergs
Head-to-head: First meeting
Stan Wawrinka is actually delivering right now, playing some great tennis quite consistently. The Swiss reached the quarterfinals with a couple of nice wins in Rotterdam, although he was easily dispatched by Jannik Sinner. Zizou Bergs has top-100 potential, but he keeps running into health issues and can’t quite make the jump. With his form to start the year being rather indifferent, this one could be a really tough ask.
Prediction: Wawrinka in 2
Main photo credit: Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
