Kitzbuhel R2 previews and predictions: Tabilo vs. Berrettini, Etcheverry vs. Hanfmann

Matteo Berrettini is coming off a title in Gstaad and will try to keep his hot streak going against a similarly in-form Alejandro Tabilo on Wednesday in Kitzbuhel. Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Yannick Hanfmann are also in action.

Matteo Berrettini vs. (2) Alejandro Tabilo

Tabilo and Berrettini will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers when they clash in round two of the Generali Open on Wednesday. Their only previous encounter came three years ago at the Indian Wells Masters, where Berrettini prevailed 6-4, 7-5. A much different Tabilo will be on the other side of the net this time around. The 27-year-old Chilean has surged to 21st in the rankings thanks to a pair of titles in 2024 (Auckland and Mallorca) and a semifinal run in Rome.

Of course, this a bad opening draw for Tabilo–who got a first-round bye as the No. 2 seed. Berrettini has also won two 250 titles this season, both on clay (Houston in April and Gstaad this past week). The 50th-ranked Italian improved to 17-5 for what has been an abbreviated 2024 campaign by beating Pavel Kotov 7-6(6), 7-6(5) on Tuesday. This could be the best match of the entire week in Kitzbuhel, but the edge goes to Tabilo given that Berrettini has to feeling some fatigue at this point.

Pick: Tabilo in 3

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Yannick Hanfmann vs. (3) Tomas Martin Etcheverry

Etcheverry is a player who probably should have at least one ATP 250 title to his credit in 2024. The 35th-ranked Argentine squandered multiple championship points in the Lyon final against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and had manageable paths at multiple Golden Swing events in addition to Houston (lost to Ben Shelton in a three-set semifinal). Etcheverry is playing well; he just has never gotten over the hump (0-3 lifetime in ATP finals).

Up first for the No. 3 seed is a second meeting with Hanfmann, who advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Jaume Munar on Monday. Prior to this week the 86th-ranked German had lost in the opening round at three of his last five tournaments and he still has not reached the third round (or quarterfinals) of any event since Miami in March. Although Hanfmann is a very capable clay-courter, Etcheverry should take care of business–just as he did against Hanfmann via a 6-3, 6-4 decision in the Houston semis.

Pick: Etcheverry in 2

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