A few picks from the Halle qualifying final today, and honestly it's an interesting set of matches with some familiar names trying to get back into the main draw. Grass always throws up surprises, so who do you think makes it through?
Terra Wortmann Open Predictions
Raphael Collignon vs Roberto Bautista Agut
Head-to-head: First meeting
Bautista Agut at 116 in the world is a long way from where he was a few years ago, and being in qualifying at Halle tells the whole story really. Collignon is ranked 51 and has been the more consistent performer lately, which on a fast surface where experience matters, should count for a lot.
That said, RBA has won on grass before and knows how to grind out tight matches. But I think Collignon's ranking advantage reflects a genuine gap in form right now and he gets through in three.
Prediction: Collignon in 3
Lorenzo Sonego vs Nikoloz Basilashvili
Head-to-head: Sonego 3-1 Basilashvili
Sonego leads this one 3-1 and Basilashvili, now ranked 118, has been miles away from his best for a while now. Sonego's serve plays well on grass and he's the kind of player who can get hot on this surface when everything's clicking.
Basilashvili still has the ball-striking to trouble anyone on a good day, but those days have become pretty rare. Hard to see this being competitive at all, and Sonego wins it likely needing three sets because that's just how these two seem to play each other.
Prediction: Sonego in 3
Mattia Bellucci vs Alex Bolt
Head-to-head: Bellucci 1-1 Bolt
The H2H is level but Bellucci is ranked almost 80 places above Bolt and has been the better player on tour for some time now. Bolt is a grass-court specialist of sorts, which makes this the most dangerous match on paper for the Italian, and the split H2H, coming on two very different surfaces, shows he's capable of beating Bellucci.
Still, the ranking gap is real and Bellucci's game has developed a lot. I feel like he handles this one, even if it goes to a third set, all things considered.
Prediction: Bellucci in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Stephane Thomas/ZUMA Press Wire