Athens R1 previews and predictions: Van de Zandschulp vs. Wawrinka, Kecmanovic vs. Majchrzak

First-round action at the inaugural Athens tournament continues on Monday, when Stan Wawrinka takes the court against Botic van de Zandschulp. Miomir Kecmanovic is getting his week underway against Kamil Majchrzak.

(WC) Stan Wawrinka vs. Botic van Zandschulp

There have been no retirement hints coming from the Wawrinka camp, so the Hellenic Championship may not be the last ATP tournament of his career. It is, however, the final event of what has been a tough season for the 40-year-old Swiss. He is 3-12 on the main tour and has even struggled at the Challenger level, which he is why he finds himself at No. 158 in the world.

Up first for Wawrinka on Monday is a second meeting with Van de Zandschulp, who lost their only previous contest 6-3, 6-3 on the clay courts of the 2020 Prague Challenger. Van de Zandschulp has also struggled in 2025, with a 16-20 record at the ATP level and a ranking of 84th. He failed to qualify at the Paris Masters last weekend. Van de Zandschulp has a history of big wins, but his history of terrible losses is far more extensive. The 30-year-old Dutchman can never be trusted in a match as a heavy favorite, this one included.

Pick: Wawrinka in 3

Miomir Kecmanovic vs. Kamil Majchrzak

Kecmanovic and Majchrzak will be squaring off for the fifth time in their careers on Monday. The head-to-head series stands at 3-1 in favor of Kecmanovic (2-0 on the main tour), but they have not faced each other since 2021. The 53rd-ranked Serb prevailed twice during that season, in straight sets at both the Australian Open and the Tokyo Olympics.

Although Kecmanovic remains the higher-ranked man in 2025, it is Majchrzak who is playing superior tennis at the moment. The 70th-ranked Pole reached the fourth round at Wimbledon, won a Challenger title in Poland, advanced to the U.S. Open third round, won multiple matches in Winston-Salem and Shanghai, and successfully qualified in Basel. Kecmanovic, on the other hand, owns a horrendous 2-7 record in his last seven tournaments.

Pick: Majchrzak in 3