It promises to be an action-packed Tuesday at the ATP Antwerp Open. Six first-round matches are on the slate and, as ever, we’re offering our predictions for every match on the slate, including Dominic Thiem vs Luca Nardi. But who will advance?
ATP Antwerp Day 2 Predictions
Roberto Carballes Baena vs Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
Head-to-head: first meeting
Since winning the Sevilla Challenger in early September, Roberto Carballes Baena appears to have checked out for the remainder of the season. At least that’s what the results tell us. The Spaniard has lost his last four matches and that could bode well for Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard to pick up his maiden main draw win at Tour level.
The French youngster is bundled with a massive serve (faced just two break points in the qualifying rounds). Most of the time he stretches it to work overtime, and that masks his seemingly fragile backhand. But as long as he can accumulate cheap points behind it, he stands a great chance of springing the upset against a player who has one eye for the off-season.
Prediction: Mpetshi Perricard in 3
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Alexander Blockx vs Yannick Hanfmann
Head-to-head: first meeting
Alexander Blockx is set for his ATP debut after winning the all-teenage qualifying match against compatriot Gilles Arnaud Bailly to seal his place in the main draw. Blockx and Bailly are tipped to take over as the future stars of Belgian tennis. Blockx won the boys’ singles trophy at this year’s Australian Open. And although junior success doesn’t often translate to an outstanding career on the main tour, there’s plenty to like about the 18-year-old, whose firebrand tennis will light up the home crowd on Tuesday.
But this will be a huge test coming up against Yannick Hanfmann. The German veteran has blossomed into an ever-present Top 100 player this season. His strengths are attributed to his consistency and fitness, with his ability to track down as many balls. However, he is also a creative shot-maker, and that should aid his cause here against a talented debutant.
Prediction: Hanfmann in 2
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Benjamin Bonzi vs Alexander Shevchenko
Head-to-head: first meeting
Benjamin Bonzi’s first half of the year was curtailed by a wrist injury that put him on the sidelines for almost two and a half months. He fell outside the world’s top 100. Lack of playing time affected his form in his first comeback tournament. In fact, it took him another two months before he was able to win a match. Bonzi has turned a corner in recent weeks, reaching a Challenger final in Rennes, and managing to rejoin the top 100.
He scored a pair of good wins in qualifying at the weekend. Alexander Shevchenko doesn’t have any momentum on hard courts coming to Antwerp. An ignominious defeat to World No. 301 Chun Hsin Tseng in Shanghai paints a grim picture of his chances in this match. The outcome should entirely be on Bonzi’s racket, and it is hard to dispute that.
Prediction: Bonzi in 2
Main photo credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
