Stefanos Tsitsipas will be back in action for the first time since his semifinal run at the Australian Open when he faces Jan-Lennard Struff in the Sofia second round on Thursday. Gael Monfils and Mikhail Kukushkin are also on the schedule.
Jan-Lennard Struff vs. (2) Stefanos Tsitsipas
Tsitsipas has been on a steady rise over the past few seasons and the next natural progression would be a place in the top 10–and perhaps even a spot in the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals. Currently 12th in the rankings, Tsitsipas is coming off a semifinal showing at the Australian Open. The 20-year-old Greek won five consecutive tight four-setters–including one over Roger Federer–before falling to eventual runner-up Rafael Nadal.
Up first for Tsitsipas at the Sofia Open on Thursday is a second career encounter with Struff. They previously faced each other two seasons ago on the red clay of the Genova Challenger, with Tsitsipas coasting 6-2, 6-3. Struff has shown signs of improvement in recent years (albeit nowhere near to the extent of his upcoming opponent) and he comes in at a solid 51st in the world. The German improved to 4-3 for his 2019 campaign by beating qualifier Stefano Travaglia 6-4, 6-3 on Tuesday. With Tsitsipas having enjoyed plenty of time off to recuperate, Struff will likely be on his way out of Sofia.
Pick: Tsitsipas in 2
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(7) Gael Monfils vs. Mikhail Kukushkin
Monfils and Kukushkin will be squaring off for the third time in their careers and for the first time in more than three years when they meet again on Thursday. The head-to-head series is tied up at one win apiece; Kukushkin prevailed 6-2, 7-5, 5-7, 1-6, 6-4 at the 2012 Australian Open before Monfils got the job done 7-6(1), 6-4 on the grass courts of Halle in 2015. At 32 years old, Monfils has continued to be plagued by injuries and he is down at No. 33 in the world–at risk of being unseeded for the rest of the 2019 slams if he doesn’t have a decent spring. The Frenchman, who lost to Taylor Fritz in the Aussie Open second round, opened in Sofia on Tuesday with a 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Viktor Troicki.
Kukushkin earned his place in the last 16 by beating Laslo Djere 7-6(6), 6-4. The 55th-ranked Kazakh suited up for Davis Cup last weekend, but he did not have to expend much energy while routing Portugal’s Pedro Sousa and Joao Sousa (6-2, 6-0 and 6-4, 6-1, respectively)–so he should be good to go for as long as necessary this week. He certainly seemed confident and well-rested against Djere; thus an unreliable Monfils could be in trouble.
Pick: Kukushkin in 3
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