The BMW Open is underway in Munich and we've got three first-round matches to break down today. Zverev on home soil is always an event, and there are a couple of other interesting ones further down the card. So who makes it through?
BMW Open Predictions
Alexander Zverev vs Miomir Kecmanovic
Head-to-head: Zverev 2-2 Kecmanovic
That head-to-head is a little misleading. The series is level but Zverev has been a completely different player over the last couple of years, and Kecmanovic has dropped well outside the top 50 while Sascha is firmly in the world's top three. Munich is also Zverev's home tournament, and the slow clay here suits his ability to grind from the baseline and wait for the right ball to attack.
Kecmanovic isn't without weapons on this surface, but there's too big a gap in quality right now. Zverev wins this comfortably.
Prediction: Zverev in 2
Arthur Rinderknech vs Alex Michelsen
Head-to-head: Rinderknech 3-0 Michelsen
Three from three is a number worth taking seriously, and Rinderknech has shown real comfort on clay this season with his serve giving him a lot of free points even on slower surfaces. Michelsen is a solid ball-striker but clay isn't where he does his best work, and coming in ranked 13 places below Rinderknech makes this a tough ask.
That said, Michelsen is young and improving and this feels like the kind of match that goes deep into a third set. I think Rinderknech gets there, but it won't be clean.
Prediction: Rinderknech in 3
Flavio Cobolli vs Marton Fucsovics
Head-to-head: First meeting
Cobolli has been one of the more pleasant surprises of the last twelve months, climbing into the top 15 and showing real quality on clay in particular. Fucsovics is a decent enough player but at 51 in the world he's in a different bracket to where Cobolli is right now, and the Italian's ability to control rallies from the back of the court should make this a fairly one-sided afternoon, and hard to see Fucsovics finding much of a way in. Straightforward one on paper.
Prediction: Cobolli in 2
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Debby Wong/ZUMA Press Wire