We've got three picks from the Gstaad first round today, and the weather isn't looking great up in the Swiss mountains with a 94% chance of rain and temperatures pushing toward 90°F. Hopefully the matches get in. Let's get into it.
EFG Swiss Open Predictions
Juan Manuel Cerundolo vs Zdenek Kolar
Head-to-head: First meeting
Cerundolo is a genuine clay-court threat and has been one of the more consistent South American players on the surface over the last couple of seasons. Kolar is ranked 153rd right now for a reason, and while he's a decent player on a good day, a slow clay court in Gstaad doesn't set up well for him.
That said, these first-round matches on clay can get scrappy, and I think Cerundolo might drop a set before getting through. Expect him to be the better player throughout, just maybe not the tidiest.
Prediction: Cerundolo in 3
Pedro Martinez Portero vs Yannick Hanfmann
Head-to-head: Portero 1-3 Hanfmann
Hanfmann leads this H2H 3-1 and is ranked a full hundred spots above Portero right now, and on clay in Switzerland he's a comfortable pick. Hard to see this being competitive at all. Portero has the one win on the head-to-head but Hanfmann is the more complete player on this surface, and his serve on a slow court gives him a free point or two every game that Portero simply can't match.
Hanfmann wins this without much drama.
Prediction: Hanfmann in 2
Alexandre Muller vs Alexander Shevchenko
Head-to-head: Muller 2-0 Shevchenko
This is the interesting one. Muller owns the H2H 2-0, but Shevchenko is ranked 32 spots higher and has been the more consistent player over the last several months. Muller has had results on clay before, but his ranking has slipped and he's not exactly coming in full of momentum right now.
I feel like Shevchenko flips the H2H here, and the ranking difference tells the real story. The conditions in Gstaad, heavy and slow if the rain holds off enough to play, should help him grind Muller down over three sets, all things considered.
Prediction: Shevchenko in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © SIPA USA