A pair of ATP 250 titles will be up for grabs when the clay-court swing continues on Sunday in Munich and Bucharest. Taylor Fritz and Jan-Lennard Struff will square off at the former, while the latter pits Marton Fucsovics against Mariano Navone.
BMW Open: (3) Taylor Fritz vs. (4) Jan-Lennard Struff
One way or the other, there will be a “first” in Munich on Sunday afternoon. Fritz is aiming for his first clay-court title, while Struff is still seeking his first ATP title of any kind. This is not the first time Struff has been on the doorstep in front of the home crowd, however. Two of the 33-year-old German’s three final appearances have come on home soil–at this same Munich tournament in 2023 and last summer in Stuttgart. Struff also finished runner-up last spring at the Madrid Masters. The world No. 28 is through to another final thanks to victories this week over Botic van de Zandschulp, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Holger Rune–the latter via a 6-2, 6-0 beatdown.
Fritz has advanced to a clay-court title match for the first time by beating Alejandro Moro Canas, Jack Draper, and Cristian Garin. It is a much-needed successful week for the 15th-ranked American, who had been on a three-match losing streak prior to arriving in Munich. Another step may be one too far for Fritz, as Struff has home-court advantage in Germany plus the surface edge on clay.
Pick: Struff in 3
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Tiriac Open: (5) Mariano Navone vs. Marton Fucsovics
Navone was basically unheard of on the ATP Tour heading into 2024, but that has changed in a hurry. All 11 of the Argentine’s main-tour match wins have come this season, propelling him up to No. 51 in the rankings. The runner-up in Rio de Janeiro, Navone has added four more victories to his haul by defeating Luciano Darderi, Thiago Seyboth Wild, Francisco Cerundolo, and Gregoire Barrere so far in Bucharest.
Up next for the 23-year-old on Sunday is a first-ever meeting with Fucsovics. Although he has been a staple of the top 50 for many years, Fucsovics is in just his fourth final and bidding for only his second title. His previous triumph also came at an ATP 250 on clay (Geneva in 2018). The 82nd-ranked Hungarian is one win away from another, having ousted Valentin Vacherot, Tallon Griekspoor, Corentin Moutet, and Alejandro Tabilo earlier in the week. Fucsovics is a capable clay-court player, but he is going up against the essence of a clay-court specialist. A laughable 205 of Navone’s 209 lifetime match victories across all levels of professional tennis have come on the slow stuff.
Pick: Navone in 3
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WWW?
I don’t qualify to make a pick for Bucharest, but I will guess.
Navone in 3
Struffie in 3 over the Carthorse.
Fritz in 2; Fucs in 3
interesting picks
Carthorse in three. Navone in three.
Woot!!
Struffie made it.
I had gone back to sleep. Bravo to Jan-Lennard Struff!