A few picks from the Halle qualifying today, and there's at least one result here that might raise some eyebrows. Grass court qualifying is always unpredictable, and the rankings don't always tell the full story on this surface.
Terra Wortmann Open Predictions
Lorenzo Sonego vs Filip Cristian Jianu
Head-to-head: First meeting
Sonego is one of the better grass court players outside the top 50 and Jianu at 263 in the world is a clay specialist who hasn't done much on fast surfaces. Hard to see this being competitive at all. Sonego's big serve and flat ball-striking are exactly what works on grass, and a player of his level coming through qualifying just has too much quality here.
Prediction: Sonego in 2
Martin Landaluce vs Marc-Andrea Huesler
Head-to-head: First meeting
Huesler was ranked inside the top 60 not long ago and has the kind of flat, aggressive game that can trouble anyone on grass, so I think this one goes the distance even with Landaluce being the higher-ranked player right now. Huesler's ranking has dropped badly and he's been inconsistent, but grass tends to be the surface where his ball-striking looks cleanest. Landaluce gets through, but not without a fight.
Prediction: Landaluce in 3
Diego Dedura vs Nikoloz Basilashvili
Head-to-head: First meeting
This is the interesting one. Basilashvili is ranked 118 but his career has been in serious decline, and his level has been wildly inconsistent for a couple of years now. Dedura at 262 is young and has been climbing steadily, and grass is a surface where the rankings matter a lot less than how someone is actually playing right now. Basilashvili's double faults and mental fragility in tight moments, which have been well documented across multiple seasons now, are a real concern and I feel like Dedura's momentum carries him through here, all things considered.
Prediction: Dedura in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Marti Segura Ramoneda/ZUMA Press Wire