Three first-round picks from Halle today, as the grass-court season gets properly underway at the Terra Wortmann Open. Grass always throws up a few surprises early in the week, so let's see who makes it through.
Terra Wortmann Open Predictions
Zizou Bergs vs Taylor Fritz
Head-to-head: First meeting
Bergs is a solid clay and hard court player but grass has never really been his surface, and Fritz arrives in Halle in decent form after reaching the French Open fourth round. Fritz's big serve is going to be a real weapon on this surface and Bergs doesn't have the returns or the aggression off the ground to consistently break it down.
That said, Fritz has a habit of dropping sets against lower-ranked opponents when he's not fully switched on, so this could get scrappy before he closes it out.
Prediction: Fritz in 3
Alexander Zverev vs Vit Kopriva
Head-to-head: First meeting
Kopriva is a decent grass-court player for his ranking, but Zverev on a fast surface is a completely different proposition to the one opponents face on clay. The serve is bigger, the rallies are shorter, and there's less time to work him around the court. Hard to see this being competitive at all.
Prediction: Zverev in 2
Karen Khachanov vs Ethan Quinn
Head-to-head: Khachanov 1-0 Quinn
Quinn is a young American who's been making his way up the rankings, but Khachanov has the experience and the power game that tends to translate well to grass and he's already beaten him before. I think the big Russian moves through this one without too much trouble, using his serve to keep Quinn from ever settling into a rhythm, all things considered.
Prediction: Khachanov in 2
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Matthieu Mirville/ZUMA Press Wire