Dominic Thiem and Stefanos Tsitsipas will continue their Barcelona campaigns against unseeded opponents on Thursday. Thiem is facing an in-form Jaume Munar, while Tsitsipas is going up against big-hitting Jan-Lennard Struff.
(3) Dominic Thiem vs. Jaume Munar
Thiem and Munar will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers and for the second time at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell on Thursday afternoon. Their only previous encounter came in the second round last spring, when Thiem prevailed 7-6(8), 6-1. The 2018 French Open champion captured the biggest title of his career at the recent Indian Wells Masters, but he has struggled since–losing right away in Miami and falling to eventual finalist Dusan Lajovic in the Monte-Carlo third round. Thiem at least managed to defeat Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 6-3 on Tuesday.
Munar is in the midst of breakout 2019 campaign, with 15 of his 26 career ATP-level match victories coming in the span of four months. The 21-year-old Spaniard, who is up to 57th in the rankings, has advancing this week by taking out Pedro Sousa and Frances Tiafoe. This may not be easy for Thiem, but he is well-rested–for once–and playing on by far his favorite surface…despite what the Indian Wells triumph would suggest.
Pick: Thiem in 2
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Jan-Lennard Struff vs. (5) Stefanos Tsitsipas
The beginning of Tsitsipas’ coming out party in 2018 was an improbable run to the Barcelona final. Ranked 63rd at the time, the fast-rising Greek ousted Schwartzman and Thiem before falling to Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-1 in the title match. It has only been full steam ahead for Tsitsipas, who is up to No. 8 in the world with two titles (one this season in Marseille) and a memorable semifinal showing at the Australian Open. Barcelona’s fifth seed took care of Marton Fucsovics 6-3, 6-4 in his opener on Tuesday.
Up next for Tsitsipas on Thursday is a third career contest against Struff, who trails the head-to-head series 2-0. At a 2017 clay-court Challenger event in Genova, Tsitsipas soared to a 6-2, 6-3 victory. He also got the job done 7-6(5), 6-4 earlier this year at the indoor tournament in Sofia. Stuff, however, can be dangerous on any given day and he is in the midst of a solid season (11-8 match record) that has him at 51st in the world. The 28-year-old German has ousted Hugo Dellien and David Goffin without dropping a set this week. But this is not a great matchup for Struff, who can’t blow Tsitsipas off the court like he did with Dellien and Goffin–and he also isn’t as consistent as the No. 5 seed.
Pick: Tsitsipas in 3
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WYG?
Thiem in 3, Tsitsi in 2
I’ll be happy if Stefanos gets it done in 2 sets. But I picked 3 sets.
Thiem in 3. This is a much improved Munar in 2019.
Thiem and Tsitsipas in three. Everyone needs to go the distance to win today – Rafa/Ferrer, Thiem, Kei, Tsitsipas, Dimi, Garin, Pella and Medvedev.
So far everyone’s got it done in 2 except Dimi who lost to Jarry in 3. Thiem, Kei and Rafa all in straights.
Vamos Rafa and Farewell Ferru!
Thiem in 2; Tpas in 2.
Wow, Thiem-Munar is a very high quality match. Haven’t seen too much of Munar, but man can he play. Beautiful touch on the drop shots.
Jaume’s good on clay and has even learned to do a fairly respectable leaping Vamos! Still needs some work on the landing, lol. Also Needs Work on other surfaces but he’ll probably get there. I don’t see him as a potential Top Tenner, but who knows?