Germany are hosting Croatia in the Davis Cup World Group, and we've got two picks from the tie today. The Altmaier-Prizmic rubber is the one I'd be watching closely, because it could set the tone before Zverev even steps on court.
Davis Cup GER-CRO Predictions
Daniel Altmaier vs Dino Prizmic
Head-to-head: Altmaier 1-0 Prizmic
Altmaier holds the H2H, but that one win came on clay, and hard court is a different conversation. Prizmic is a genuinely tricky opponent on this surface, and at 21 he's been climbing the rankings steadily this year. He hits flat and hard off both wings and tends to play without much hesitation, which makes him dangerous in best-of-three formats where there's no time to find your rhythm gradually.
Altmaier has the home crowd behind him and that matters in Davis Cup more than almost any other format, so this won't be easy for Prizmic. That said, I think the Croatian's ball-striking on hard courts gives him the slight edge over three sets, and the pressure of the occasion can cut both ways.
Prediction: Prizmic in 3
Alexander Zverev vs Matej Dodig
Head-to-head: First meeting
Dodig is ranked 171st in the world and has never faced Zverev before. Hard to see this being competitive at all. Zverev is the second-best player on the planet right now and will be playing in front of a home crowd with Germany potentially needing the points depending on how Altmaier's match goes and he's not dropping this one.
Prediction: Zverev in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Pierre Stevenin/ZUMA Press Wire