Karen Khachanov hopes to emerge from a slump this week in Munich, but he has a tough opener on his hands in the form of Philipp Kohlschreiber. Second-round action also includes a meeting between Denis Kudla and Budapest winner Matteo Berrettini.
Philipp Kohlschreiber vs. (2) Karen Khachanov
Khachanov and Kohlschreiber will be squaring off for the fourth time in their careers when they battle for a place in the quarterfinals of the BMW Open on Thursday. To say it has been an entertaining head-to-head series–which Kohlschreiber leads 2-1–would be a gross understatement. Each of their two most recent encounters required a final-set tiebreaker, with Kohlschreiber surviving on both occasions; 3-6, 7-6(1), 7-6(5) on the indoor hard courts of Rotterdam last season and 7-5, 6-7(7), 7-6(6) a few months later in Rome.
Although the rankings may suggest otherwise, Kohlschreiber has to like his chances of making it three in a row. Munich is by far the best tournament of the 35-year-old German’s career, as he boasts an unbelievable 34-11 record following Monday’s victory over Andreas Seppi. Kohlschreiber has won it three times and has finished runner-up on three other occasions–including last spring (lost to Alexander Zverev). Khachanov, meanwhile, is an alarming 7-9 in 2019 and is currently saddled with a four-match losing streak. The 13th-ranked Russian actually has to be the underdog in this one, for obvious reasons.
Pick: Kohlschreiber in 2
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Denis Kudla vs. Mattero Berrettini
Berrettini knows a thing or two about ending losing streaks. The 23-year-old Italian had dropped five matches in succession at the ATP level before capturing the second title of his career last week in Budapest. Up to 37th in the world, Berrettini beat four opponents ranked between No. 33 and No. 74 before scraping past world No. 105 Filip Krajinovic in Sunday’s final.
Surprisingly, Berrettini and Kudla will be facing each other for the fifth time in their careers on Thursday. Kudla leads the head-to-head series 3-1, including 2-0 in main draws. The 26-year-old American prevailed 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 in round one of the 2018 U.S. Open and 2-6, 7-5, 7-5 earlier this season in Dubai. But the story is a different one now, as Berrettini has arrived whereas Kudla is a dreadful 4-10 on the main tour this year. Although Kudla did well to beat Kyle Edmund on Tuesday, a red-hot Berrettini is a tougher proposition on this surface.
Pick: Berrettini in 2
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Kohl in 3; Kudla in 3.
WWW?
Kohlscreiber is the form of his life right now. Beretini will be a big test but he should win that also.
Chechinatto v Fucsovics should be a good match.
Garin might upset Zverev also.
Can Guido pella continue his run and take out top dog RBA.
I’ve got Pella winning the whole thing beating Zverev in the final.Kohl in the semis
Nice field in Munich, all left are good on clay. I think Sasha needs the points to say ahead of Fed (though it won’t be long imo, that Fed will surpass him for no.3 ranking).
Sasha seems to be improving in form but Garin is also playing well so won’t be an easy match. In fact I think all the four matches won’t be easy matches for anyone.