Andrey Rublev and Felix Auger-Aliassime will be battling in round two at the ATP 500 in Rotterdam on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Marseille runner-up Grigor Dimitrov takes on Lorenzo Sonego in the opening round.
(2) Andrey Rublev vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime
In a different year this could well have been the ABN AMRO Open final, but Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime’s ranking has dipped to the point (No. 28) that he is unseeded in a stacked Rotterdam tournament. So instead, we get the treat of Auger-Aliassime and Andrey Rublev in the second round. But if you re hoping for a blockbuster, it might be best to adjust your expectations.
Rublev has been in fantastic form in 2024. The Russian has only lost one match so far–a quarterfinal showdown with eventual Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner. Otherwise Rublev has been superb, as he also started off the season with a tidy tournament win in Hong Kong. Auger-Aliassime has traditionally played well in Rotterdam; he was a 2020 finalist and the 2022 champion. That should make for a more competitive match than ranking might suggest, but with Rublev holding a 3-1 record over Auger-Aliassime and the Russian’s far superior form at the moment, this one should go to the favorite.
Cheryl pick: Rublev in 2
Ricky pick: Rublev in 2
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(6) Grigor Dimitrov vs. Lorenzo Sonego
No. 6 seed Grigor Dimitrov will be in first-round action on Wednesday. The Bulgarian had an absolutely inexplicable third-round loss to Portugal’s Nuno Borges at the Australian Open, but his other two efforts this year resulted in a tournament win (Brisbane) and a final last week in Marseille–where he lost to Ugo Humbert.
Fatigue is sure to factor into the world No. 13’s bid in Rotterdam eventually, but it doesn’t seem likely to happen this early. Dimitrov’s first-round opponent is world No. 48 Lorenzo Sonego. The Italian is an anemic 2-4 on the season, although he did push Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz hard in the second round of the Australian Open before succumbing in four. Expect Dimitrov to roll.
Cheryl pick: Dimitrov in 2
Ricky pick: Dimitrov in 2
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Ricky’s picks, each in 3 . . . for whatever reason
Rublev in 2; Dtrov in 2.