The clay swing is set to start this week in full-throttle with big matches coming up in ATP Barcelona, ATP Budapest, Stuttgart, and Istanbul. Being the first day of the week and also the starting day of the tournaments, Monday, April 22, will mark a rather interesting time in terms of matches.
Taylor Fritz v Reilly Opelka – An All-American Affair in Barcelona
In the first round of the Barcelona Open 2019, Taylor Fritz and Reilly Opelka, two 21-year-olds, will lock horns for a place in the second round. The duo has met only once before on the ATP Tour in the 2018 Indian Wells Masters, and Fritz won that match in three sets.
They have also had run-ins in the lower levels as teenagers and back then too, Fritz dominated all of their encounters.
This time around, things may be a bit different. Opelka has had an excellent run so far, winning his first singles title in New York. He also reached the third round in Miami and the semifinal in the Dallas Challenger. Meanwhile, Fritz has been struggling a lot with his form with first-round exits in his last four appearances on the ATP Tour.
Fritz v Opelka Tip: Opelka to win the match: 11/10 (Bet £10, Get £30 in Free Bets with William Hill, Terms & Conditions Apply)
Petra Martic v Tamara Zidansek: Martic to Get the Ball Rolling in Istanbul
Petra Martic has been awarded the number six seed for the Istanbul Cup this season. She will be the only seeded player in action on Monday and will start her campaign against Tamara Zidansek of Slovenia.
The two ladies will be meeting on the tour for the first time in their respective careers. Martic is heading into this fixture after delivering the best run of her season so far. She reached the semifinal in Charleston – her first such feat in a considerably long time. As for her rest of the season, it is mainly marked by early losses.
Zidansek, on the other hand, is a rising 21-year-old Slovenian with much to prove. She was a semifinalist in Hua Hin and a quarterfinalist in Bogota. She has 17 ITF titles to her name, four of which she won last year. The Slovenian is now attempting to make waves on the WTA Tour and so far, her efforts have been along the right path.
Martic v Zidansek Tip: Martic to win in straight sets: 11/10 (Get up to £100 in Bet Credits with bet365, Terms & Conditions Apply)
Bernard Tomic v Aljaz Bedene – Tomic Looking to Reinvent Himself in Budapest
It is well known that Bernard Tomic hasn’t had the best time on the ATP Tour in recent years. With a rapid decline in the rankings, the 26-year-old is eyeing a major resurgence on the circuit right now. Of course, he hasn’t had much luck as of yet, with rather early losses in almost all the events this year.
In Budapest, he will start his campaign against Aljaz Bedene – another player who is struggling with his form. His win-loss tally is at 6-6 although, he had a good run in Rio Open and Cordoba Open, reaching the semifinal and quarterfinal respectively.
The two gents have met only once before, in the 2016 ATP s-Hertogenbosch. Tomic won that match in straight sets although, it will be a bit more tricky for him to repeat that feat again.
Tomic v Bedene Tip: Over 22.5 games in the match: 6/5 (Get up to £30 of Free Bets with Betway, Terms & Conditions Apply)
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