Grigor Dimitrov faces a potentially tough opener against Tommy Robredo on Wednesday. Juan Monaco and Bernard Tomic are also in action.
(14) Grigor Dimitrov vs. Tommy Robredo
Dimitrov will take the court at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell on Wednesday after a stellar run last week at the Monte-Carlo Masters. The 21-year-old Bulgarian reached the quarterfinals before taking a set off Rafael Nadal as he improved his record for the season to 14-8. Dimitrov, a runner-up in Brisbane and a semifinalist in Rotterdam, is up to a career-high ranking of 28th in the world.
Up first for the No. 14 seed is Robredo, whom he has never faced. The 31-year-old Spaniard is enjoying a resurgence in 2013 following an injury-plagued 2012 campaign. He won the Casablanca title earlier this month and extended his record this year to 12-8 by overcoming countryman Marc Lopez 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 on Tuesday.
Dimitrov has had plenty of time off heading into this one, but it is still a relatively quick turnaround in the aftermath of Monte-Carlo. He has bigger weapons than his opponent, but this surface is not an ideal one for his effort to overpower Robredo. The veteran, meanwhile, is only gaining confidence and he will feel right at home both on clay and in Barcelona.
Pick: Robredo in 3
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Bernard Tomic vs. (7) Juan Monaco
Like Robredo, Monaco is another veteran rounding into form following injury troubles. The 29-year-old Argentine lost his opening match in five consecutive tournaments to start the year, spanning from the Australian Open through Miami. He won two live Davis Cup rubbers (one in the first round and one in the quarterfinals), however, and picked up additional momentum by reaching the Houston semifinals earlier this month. Monaco is coming off a third-round performance in Monte-Carlo, where he beat Martin Klizan and Ernests Gulbis before falling to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in three sets.
This is the No. 7 seed’s first encounter with Tomic, who is taking mostly an opposite path this season. In January, the 20-year-old Australian won the Sydney title and advanced two rounds in Melbourne. Tomic also reached the Marseille quarterfinals in February, but he had won only two of his last six tournament matches prior to Barcelona. The world No. 47 opened on Tuesday with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 victory over qualifier Kenny De Schepper.
While Monaco is finally playing with some confidence and should be extremely comfortable on the clay courts of Barcelona, Tomic’s game is far better-suited for hard courts and grass. Unfortunately for the Aussie, this will be a baseline battle in which he is moved side to side and all over the court by his opponent. Based slightly on current form but especially on the surface, Monaco has a clear edge.
Pick: Monaco in 2
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Yes, I like Dimitrov as well, and Monaco just too tough on clay!