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And similar to that, we’re on to grass.
The lengthy slog that was the clay-court swing lastly got here to an finish on the French Open, the place Carlos Alcaraz toppled Alexander Zverev in 5 units on Sunday. If clay was a marathon, grass is a dash. The grass-court buildup to Wimbledon is brief and candy, beginning this week in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Stuttgart.
Listed below are my previews and picks for the pair of ATP 250 tournaments.
Libema Open
The place: ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
Prize cash: 690,135 Euros
Prime seed: Alex de Minaur
Defending champion: Tallon Griekspoor
Will the host nation crowd a 3rd consecutive Dutch champion on the heels of Tim van Rijthoven in 2022 and Tallon Griekspoor final summer time? In all probability not given the power of the draw. That being mentioned, Griekspoor has a authentic likelihood to repeat. He’s taking part in properly; the truth is, he led Zverev by a double-break within the fifth set of their French Open third-round match. Griekspoor might meet Botic van de Zandschulp within the final 16 and Karen Khachanov within the quarterfinals. The underside half of the bracket additionally consists of American seeds Tommy Paul and Sebastian Korda.
On the prime of the draw, Tim van Rijthoven–the 2022 winner–has a winnable opening match in opposition to Zizou Bergs. Nevertheless, he would then face prime seed Alex de Minaur, who simply made it to the quarterfinals in Paris. Regardless of that outcome, De Minaur is unquestionably thrilled to maneuver from clay to grass. So, too, is Adrian Mannarino. The veteran from Frances is superior on this floor and captured the ‘s-Hertogenbosch title in 2019.
Quarterfinal picks: Alex de Minaur over Roberto Bautista Agut, Adrian Mannarino over Ugo Humbert, Tallon Griekspoor over Aleksandar Vukic, and Tommy Paul over David Goffin
Semifinals: De Minaur over Mannarino and Griekspoor over Paul
Closing: De Minaur over Griekspoor
BOSS Open
The place: Stuttgart, Germany
Prize cash: 734,915 Euros
Prime seed: Alexander Zverev
Defending champion: Jan-Lennard Struff
Alexander Zverev is definitely nonetheless within the Stuttgart area. Will he find yourself withdrawing? That will in all probability be the good. Then once more, it’s at dwelling in Germany and since he misplaced the Roland Garros ultimate he is likely to be inclined to get proper again in gear and erase some demons. He additionally wouldn’t need to play his first match till Thursday. Even when Zverev does keep in, he’s no lock for the title. Chris Eubanks may very well be up first for him in spherical two and defending champion Jan-Lennard Struff is in the identical quarter. Frances Tiafoe and Andy Murray are additionally within the tom half of the bracket.
The underside half is hope to Ben Shelton, Lorenzo Musetti, Matteo Berrettini, and Denis Shapovalov. It’s not as powerful on paper, however there’s some depth–particularly if Berrettini is wholesome and Shapovalov reveals indicators of his former self (a 2021 Wimbledon semifinalist). Musetti will kick off his marketing campaign in opposition to qualifier and up to date Lyon winner Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
Quarterfinal picks: Jan-Lennard Struff over Chris Eubanks, Jack Draper over Yannick Hanfmann, Alexander Bublik over Dominik Koepfer, and Denis Shapovalov over Ben Shelton
Semifinals: Struff over Draper and Bublik over Shapovalov
Closing: Struff over Bublik
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and likewise maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter at @Dimonator.
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