Botic van de Zandschulp and Adrian Mannarino will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers when they clash in the semifinals of the Winston-Salem Open on Friday. Their only previous encounter came earlier this year on the hard courts of Melbourne, where Van de Zandschulp cruised 6-4, 6-3 in round one of an ATP 250 event.
To say that Mannarino’s week almost never got off the ground would be a gross understatement. In the first round he faced Christopher O’Connell in a match that lasted three hours and 30 minutes. Mannarino trailed 0-40 while serving at 5-6 in the third set, saved all three match points, saved one more match point, and eventually prevailed 7-6(4), 6-7(3), 7-6(3). Since then the 65th-ranked Frenchman has been off to the races, beating Emil Ruusuvuori, Albert Ramos-Vinolas, and Maxime Cressy in straight sets.
Van de Zandschulp, who got an opening bye as the No. 2 seed, has also been winning in straight sets dating back to the second round. The 23rd-ranked Dutchman booked his spot in the semis by taking out Tallon Griekspoor, Jaume Munar, and Benjamin Bonzi. This is Van de Zandschulp’s third semifinal in 2022 and he is looking for his second final appearance–and ultimately for the first title of his career.
Although Mannarino is also in fine form, this is a tougher matchup for him than the net-charging Cressy. The lefty likes a target, but Van de Zandschulp won’t give him one. The 26-year-old is content to hang at the baseline and rally, and he can handle Mannarino’s off-speed game with his own backhand slices. Van de Zandschulp has far more firepower, as well.
This should be more competitive than their Melbourne contest, but count on Van de Zandschulp advancing.
Pick: Van de Zandschulp in 3
WWW?
Mannarino playing very well as of late…in 3.
Agreed … AM = one of those players no one wants to face
should be a good one
BVDZ in 1