One week after facing each other in the Monte-Carlo final, Andrey Rublev and Holger Rune are once again battling for titles–this time in different cities. Rublev is going up against Dusan Lajovic in Banja Luka, while Rune awaits Botic van de Zandschulp in Munich.
BMW Open: (1) Holger Rune vs. (4) Botic van de Zandschulp
Van de Zandschulp’s first-ever ATP final appearance came at the 2022 BMW Open against Holger Rune. His second one? At the 2023 BMW Open against…you guessed it…Holger Rune. The 29th-ranked Dutchman can only hope that his second chance goes better than last year, as he was forced to retire with an illness in the opening set. Van de Zandschulp has once again put himself with one victory of a maiden ATP title thanks to Munich wins over Aslan Karatsev, Marcos Giron, and Taylor Fritz–all in straight sets.
Rune is playing in his seventh ATP final and bidding for his fourth title. The seventh-ranked Dane almost won one last weekend in Monte-Carlo but squandered a break lead in the third set and lost to Andrey Rublev. He has gotten right back in gear at the Munich 250 by beating Yannick Hanfmann, Cristian Garin, and Christopher O’Connell without playing a single set more competitive than 6-4. Rune has the experience edge on this stage and is in superior form, so he should take care of Van de Zandschulp and lift the Munich trophy yet again.
Pick: Rune in 2
Srpska Open: Dusan Lajovic vs. (2) Andrey Rublev
A Russian-Serbian final showdown was expected when this inaugural Banja Luka event began, but Rublev’s opponent won’t be Novak Djokovic. Instead, the No. 2 seed will be facing Lajovic–who upset Djokovic 6-4, 7-6(6) in the quarterfinals. The 32-year-old beat another countryman in the semis, ousting Miomir Kecmanovic 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4.
Can Lajovic cap off this dream week with his second ATP title? The chips are stacked against him, in part because his victory over Djokovic was obviously a tough one and then he needed two hours and 59 minutes to get past Kecmanovic. Rublev, on the other hand, is rolling. The sixth-ranked Russian has followed up his Monte-Carlo triumph with routine, straight-set scalps of Juan Pablo Varillas, Damir Dzumhur, and Alex Molcan. Anything other than another straight-setter in Rublev’s favor would be big surprise.
Pick: Rublev in 2
WWW?
Big choke from BVZ. Had so many breaks. Mps as well. Disappointing.
Amazing finale. Well deserved after he threw it in Monte Carlo
Huge congratulations to Duci, what I way to win a tournament at the tail end of his career. To beat #1 and #6 in world, couldn’t have happened to a nicer bloke, such a nice and humble person.
*what a way