Second-round action will get underway in Stuttgart on Wednesday, when Germany’s own Oscar Otte will try to treat the home crowd to an upset of Denis Shapovalov. Lorenzo Sonego and Jan-Lennard Struff are also in action.
Oscar Otte vs. (4) Denis Shapovalov
Aside from beating a hobbled Rafael Nadal in Rome, Shapovalov’s 2022 campaign since leaving Australia has been a disaster. The 16th-ranked Canadian won seven of his first eight matches this year; he is 9-10 in his last 19, including a straight-set loss to Holger Rune in round one at Roland Garros. Shapovalov made a run to the Wimbledon semifinals last summer, so he can only hope that a return to grass is just what the doctor ordered.
Up first for the No. 4 seed on Wednesday following a bye at the BOSS Open is Otte, who advanced on Monday with a 7-6(2), 7-6(4) defeat of fellow German Daniel Altmaier. Eleven of Otte’s 19 career ATP-level match victories have already come this season, propelling him to 61st in the rankings. The 28-year-old qualified at Wimbledon last summer and then reached the second round, where he succumbed to Andy Murray in five sets. Otte’s current form, general grass-court prowess, and home-court advantage should be enough to extend Shapovalov’s woes.
Pick: Otte in 3
(6) Lorenzo Sonego vs. (WC) Jan-Lennard Struff
Another German will be in action when Struff takes the court against Sonego for a first-ever head-to-head matchup. This season has been a complete nightmare for Struff, whose 7-5, 5-7, 7-6(8) victory over Marcos Giron on Monday marked just his second ATP-level win of 2022 compared to eight losses. The 32-year-old has slumped to No. 103 in the world, thus requiring a wild card to get into the main draw this week.
Sonego is in superior form, as he advanced to the French Open third round before falling to eventual runner-up Casper Ruud in five sets. The 32nd-ranked Italian eased past Benoit Paire 7-5, 6-2 in his Stuttgart opener, improving to 14-9 lifetime on grass (by comparison, Struff is a horrendous 17-25 on the green stuff). Two of Sonego’s four ATP finals have come on grass (2019 Antalya champion, 2021 Eastbourne runner-up). All signs point to the No. 6 seed taking care of business without too much trouble.
Pick: Sonego in 2
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Sonego and Otte in three
Why is Struff so poor on grass? I think the figures are more about his early days.He better more recently. He inconsistent on any surface though.
pretty big take-back with his swings, tall and can’t bend down low, serve gets tight in key moments
Just like his hobbled countryman – who not bad on grass , but better on other surfaces