Umag champion Andrey Rublev will be right back in action when he takes the court in Hamburg against Philipp Kohlschreiber on Tuesday. The first-round schedule also includes Fernando Verdasco vs. Jiri Vesely.
Philipp Kohlschreiber vs. (SE) Andrey Rublev
Two days after winning his first career ATP title in Umag, Rublev will play at the German Tennis Championships as a special exemption. Rublev’s triumph was especially improbable because he fell in qualifying before getting a lucky loser spot in the main draw. The 19-year-old Russian, who is now up to 49th in the rankings, promptly reeled off victories over Carlos Berlocq, Andrej Martin, Fabio Fognini, Ivan Dodig, and Paolo Lorenzi.
Up first for Rublev on Tuesday is a first-ever meeting with Kohlschreiber. The 58th-ranked German is just 17-15 this season and coming off some rough first-round draws at the French Open (lost to Nick Kyrgios) and Wimbledon (lost to eventual runner-up Marin Cilic). Kohlschreiber is one of those rock-solid players who generally takes care of business when he should but rarely pulls off big upsets. He should get the job done against an opponent making a quick turnaround from a physically and emotionally draining week in Umag.
Pick: Kohlschreiber in 2
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Jiri Vesely vs. (7) Fernando Verdasco
Verdasco and Vesely will also be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers on Tuesday. A return to clay appears to be just what the doctor ordered for Verdasco, who upset Alexander Zverev en route to the French Open fourth round before compiling a dreadful 1-3 record in three grass-court tournaments. The 37th-ranked Spaniard went back to the red stuff last week and reached the Bastad semifinals, ultimately succumbing in three sets to eventual champion David Ferrer.
Vesely’s mediocre 19-17 record in 2017 has him at 55th in the world. The 24-year-old Czech’s clay-court exploits this season include a semifinal showing in Marrackech, a third-round performance at Roland Garros, a Challenger title in Prostejov, and a quarterfinal finish last week in Umag (lost to Lorenzi 1-6, 7-5, 6-3). On this surface, Verdasco should be able to get enough service returns in play to ultimately break down Vesely from the back of the court.
Pick: Verdasco in 3
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Nando and Kohl in two
yep. think so, too, both in two sets. Nando and Kohl.