Belgrade R1 previews and predictions: Millman vs. Thiem, Krajinovic vs. Goffin

Dominic Thiem is set for his first ATP-level match since last summer, as he prepares to face John Millman during first-round action in Belgrade on Tuesday. Filip Krajinovic vs. David Goffin is another intriguing matchup right off the bat.

Dominic Thiem vs. John Millman

Thiem vs. Millman on clay would generally be a huge mismatch, but that is anything but the case heading into round one of the Belgrade Open on Tuesday. If anything, it could be a lopsided matchup in the other direction. Thiem is a two-time French Open runner-up and former world No. 3, but he just missed nine months because of a wrist injury. The 28-year-old Austrian returned last month at the Marbella Challenger and lost right away to Pedro Cachin via a 6-3, 6-4 decision. Thiem has not played since, so this marks his first ATP-level match since last June on the grass courts of Mallorca.

Millman may not be at his best on clay, but he also isn’t entirely hopeless on the surface. The 80th-ranked Australian played in six clay-court tournaments last season and advanced at least one round in all six. Although Millman is 0-3 lifetime in the head-to-head series, you can throw those meetings out the window since this is a much different Thiem that will be on display in Belgrade. Millman should be able to take advantage.

Pick: Millman in 2

David Goffin vs. (8) Filip Krajinovic

Krajinovic and Goffin will be squaring off for the seventh time in their careers on Tuesday. Goffin leads the head-to-head series 4-2 (3-2 at the ATP level) and has won two in a row. The 49th-ranked Belgian prevailed 6-1, 7-6(5), 6-4 at the 2020 U.S. Open and 6-4, 6-4 last year in Doha.

Goffin is coming back from physical problems of is own and although the going has been slow, he picked up some much-needed momentum with a title in Marrakech to begin this clay-court swing. Krajinovic has won only seven matches in 2022 compared to Goffin’s 13 and the 45th-ranked Serb is coming off an opening setback in Monte-Carlo at the hands of Dusan Lajovic. Krajinovic has not defeated anyone currently ranked higher than No. 78 this entire season. This is a good opportunity for Goffin to earn another clay-court win.

Pick: Goffin in 3