Roland Garros is just one week away, and when a Grand Slam is on the immediate horizon you normally expect almost everyone to be resting up. That isn’t the case in Geneva, where an incredibly strong field is on hand. Novak Djokovic took a late wild card into this ATP 250 tournament and is joined in the draw by Casper Ruud, Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, and Andy Murray. Meanwhile, Ugo Humbert and Frances Tiafoe headline the festivities in Lyon.
The weeks preceding slams are always the toughest to predict, but let’s give it a shot!
Gonet Geneva Open
Where: Geneva, Switzerland
Surface: Clay
Points: 250
Prize money: 579,320 Euros
Top seed: Novak Djokovic
2023 champion: Nicolas Jarry (not playing)
Draw analysis: For any ATP 250 event, the Geneva field is incredible; for the week before a major, it may be the best we’ve ever seen. Heck, Djokovic’s opening match could come against Murray in a rivalry that used to be Grand Slam final material. Denis Shapovalov and Tallon Griekspoor also find themselves in the top quarter of the bracket, while Djokovic could also have to get past either Fritz or Jack Draper just to reach the title match.
The other side features Ruud, Shelton, and Sebastian Baez. Ruud and Shelton own first-round byes, but Baez can never be discounted on clay and others such as Fabian Marozsan, Alexander Shevchenko, and Flavio Cobolli are capable of doing damage. Shelton vs. Cobolli is potential second-round showdown, while Ruud could face Baez in the quarters.
Hot: Casper Ruud, Taylor Fritz, Flavio Cobolli
Cold: Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Denis Shapovalov, Chris Eubanks, Emil Ruusuvuori, Aslan Karatsev
Quarterfinal predictions: Novak Djokovic over Federico Coria, Taylor Fritz over Jack Draper, Flavio Cobolli over Fabian Marozsan, and Sebastian Baez over Casper Ruud
Semifinal predictions: Fritz over Djokovic and Baez over Cobolli
Final: Fritz over Baez
[yop_poll id=”1125″]
Open Parc Lyon
Where: Lyon, France
Surface: Clay
Points: 250
Prize money: 579,320 Euros
Top seed: Ugo Humbert
2023 champion: Arthur Fils (not playing)
Draw analysis: Lyon is not going to make many—if any—headlines this week, but it quietly boasts a decent field. Unsurprisingly, the flavor is French. Humbert, the No. 1 seed, has seemingly been winning titles left and right dating back to last fall. Additional contenders in Lyon who hail from the host nation are Adrian Mannarino, Gael Monfils, Alexandre Muller, and Richard Gasquet. Muller, who upset Andrey Rublev en route to the Rome fourth round, will battle Gasquet in round one.
Mannarino may be the No. 3 seed, but on clay he is pretty much hopeless. With Tiafoe slumping, that second section of the draw is completely wide open. Luciano Darderi and Jaume Munar are among those who could take advantage. The story is similar near the bottom of the bracket. Second-seeded Alexander Bublik doesn’t like clay and the seventh-seeded Monfils has not done anything notable of late. As such, Francisco Cerundolo and Mariano Navone have to be considered the top two favorites to earn a final spot.
Hot: Ugo Humbert, Mariano Navone
Cold: Adrian Mannarino, Frances Tiafoe, Mackenzie McDonald, Richard Gasquet, Dan Evans
Quarterfinal predictions: Tomas Martin Etcheverry over Dominik Koepfer, Jaume Munar over Luciano Darderi, Francisco Cerundolo over Lorenzo Sonego, and Alexandre Muller over Alexander Bublik
Semifinals: Etcheverry over Munar and Cerundolo over Muller
Final: Etcheverry over Cerundolo
[yop_poll id=”1126″]
who ya got?
Based on my bottom-level bracket picking for Rome, I have NO idea.
But I will create my brackets for the coming week now. Fail and keep failing 😀
Its bad when you have to pick Jamie Munar to go far..
From a betting perspective, I wouldn’t touch this with a 10-foot pole.
Why is it always about betting. I just enjoy predicting or trying to
yup
Think Humbert the big dark horse, did well in Monte Carlo But Ive gone for Cerundolo winning, last years runner up.