A miserable day in Hamburg weather-wise, with temperatures barely above freezing and a 94% chance of rain hanging over the qualifying rounds. We've got three picks from today's first round of qualifying, and while most of these look pretty straightforward, at least one of them has some genuine intrigue to it.
Hamburg Open Qualifying Predictions
Aleksandar Kovacevic vs Zhizhen Zhang
Head-to-head: Kovacevic 0-1 Zhang
Zhang actually has the H2H advantage here, and that one prior meeting matters because it shows he can handle Kovacevic's game. But the rankings tell a clearer story right now. Kovacevic is inside the top 100 for a reason and Zhang, ranked 239th, has clearly fallen off the level he showed earlier in his career.
That said, Zhang is the kind of grinder who can make clay matches ugly and uncomfortable and Kovacevic hasn't always been great at closing out players who drag him into long rallies. This one goes three sets, but I think Kovacevic gets through it.
Prediction: Kovacevic in 3
Henri Squire vs Cristian Garin
Head-to-head: First meeting
Garin is ranked 85th in the world and has spent most of his career being one of the better clay players on tour. Squire is ranked 258th and is a wildcard into qualifying. Hard to see this being competitive at all. The cold and wet conditions might slow everything down and make the points longer, but that's not going to help Squire much against someone with Garin's clay pedigree.
Prediction: Garin in 2
Marcos Giron vs Sumit Nagal
Head-to-head: First meeting
Giron at 76 in the world really should be breezing through qualifying, and against Nagal, ranked 276th, this looks like a comfortable afternoon on paper. Nagal has had his moments on clay but he's been well outside the top 200 for a stretch now, and Giron has been a consistent presence on the tour for years. The tricky conditions could extend things a bit, but Giron should still find a way to get through here, all things considered.
Prediction: Giron in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Daniel McGregor-Huyer/ZUMA Press Wire