Roger Federer will kick off his Halle campaign when he takes the court against Jan-Lennard Struff on Wednesday. Dominic Thiem, who defeated Federer en route to the Stuttgart title last week, is back in action for a first-round meeting with Joao Sousa.
(1) Roger Federer vs. (WC) Jan-Lennard Struff
Federer missed the end of the clay-court swing with a back injury and his grass campaign began with a semifinal loss to Dominic Thiem last week in Stuttgart, but a trip to the Gerry Weber Open may be just what the doctor ordered. The 34-year-old Swiss is 51-5 lifetime in Halle and 44-2 in his last 46 matches, with eight career titles. Another winner’s trophy this time around would mark the second occasion on which he has four-peated at this tournament, having previous accomplished the feat from 2003 through 2006.
Up first for Federer on Wednesday is Struff, who has never faced the 17-time Grand Slam champion. At No. 88 in the world, Stuff needed a wild card to gain direct entry into this event at home in Germany. The 26-year-old is just 3-7 at the ATP level this season but he is coming off a solid performance in Stuttgart, where he upset Marcos Baghdatis in three sets before bowing out to Gilles Simon 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Struff has the powerful, flat-hitting type of game that can work well on grass, but Federer is far too good in Halle and surely motivated to get plenty of matches under his belt prior to Wimbledon–so this should be straightforward.
Pick: Federer in 2 losing 8-10 games
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Joao Sousa vs. (3) Dominic Thiem
Thiem is making the energizer bunny look like it lacks stamina, but the plan has worked so far for the 22-year-old Austrian so he might as well play yet another tournament this week in Halle. Technically, in fact, he is participating in two different events this week. Sunday’s Stuttgart final got delayed by rain to Monday, when Thiem ultimately prevailed over doubles partner Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-4. The world No. 7 now owns four titles this season and Stuttgart marked his first on grass.
After one brief day of rest, Thiem will be back in action on Wednesday for a seventh career encounter with Sousa. The 30th-ranked Portuguese trails the head-to-head series 5-1 and he is 2-12 in his last 14 total sets against Thiem. They have faced each other twice in 2016, with Sousa going down 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 in a Davis Cup rubber at home in Portugal before succumbing 6-3, 6-2 on the clay courts of Rome. The 27-year-old is a lackluster 13-17 this season and grass is by no means his favorite surface, so a clear edge goes to an indefatigable opponent who is growing in confidence on the green stuff.
Pick: Thiem in 2
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Tell me Thiem isn’t going to play next week too. Please.
Fairly sure he is not playing at Nottingham
Fed should beat Struff easily, either 5-7 or 8-10 games.
Thiem seems to want to strike while the iron is hot. I hope it doesn’t cost him down the road. He should win in 2 sets.
tsame as Nny.