Fernando Vedasco and Ivan Dodig will contest a tough first-round matchup on Wednesday in Stockholm. Benoit Paire and Pablo Carreno Busta are battling for a place in the quarterfinals.
Fernando Verdasco vs. (8) Ivan Dodig
Verdasco and Dodig will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers when they clash in round one of the If Stockholm Open on Wednesday. They have split their two previous meetings; Verdasco prevailed 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 last spring on the clay courts of Monte-Carlo before Dodig survived a recent five-setter 6-3, 7-5, 1-6, 4-6, 6-3 at the U.S. Open. The 29th-ranked Croat built on that win and subsequent third-round showing in New York with a semifinal performance in Tokyo. Dodig, though, is coming off a first-round Shanghai loss to Jurgen Melzer.
Last week’s Masters event saw Verdasco advance one round before succumbing to Milos Raonic in three sets. The 32nd-ranked Spaniard is a modest 26-21 for the year, including a mere 2-4 in ATP tournament play since reaching the Winston-Salem quarterfinals in August. Current form slightly favors Dodig, as does the indoor hard-court surface. While also taking confidence from their U.S. Open result, the eighth seed should get through this as long as he serves well and can dictate play away from the Verdasco forehand.
Pick: Dodig in 3
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(6) Benoit Paire vs. Pablo Carreno Busta
Paire and Carreno Busta will be squaring off for the fourth time in their careers during second-round action on Wednesday. All three of their previous encounters came on clay, one in a Futures event, one on the Challenger circuit, and one at the ATP level. Paire leads the head-to-head series 2-1, with one of his two victories coming two years ago at the 500-point tournament in Barcelona via a 6-7(7), 6-3, 6-2 decision.
Carreno Busta, of course, is a much different player now. The 22-year-old Spaniard is up to a career-high ranking of No. 66 in the world thanks to dominance at the Futures and Challenger levels. Additionally, all seven of his ATP match victories (compared to only six losses) have come this season. Carreno Busta opened on Monday in Stockholm by getting a first-set retirement from Jurgen Zopp. Paire earned his place in the last 16 by taking care of Santiago Giraldo 6-4, 6-4. The 25th-ranked Frenchman is 30-27 on the ATP Tour this season and a modest 2-4 in his last six matches. On an indoor hard court, he should have just a little bit too much game with his serve and backhand for an opponent who would prefer a fourth straight clay-court date.
Pick: Paire in 3
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