World no. 594, Fernando Lopez of Spain, will take on Yosuke Watanuki of Japan, the world number 126, in the first round of the 2023 Stuttgart Open on Monday, June 12. Get the live streaming options of this Fernando Lopez v Yosuke Watanuki match along with its preview, head-to-head, and tips here.
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Feliciano Lopez v Yosuke Watanuki Head to Head
.The pair have never played each other before.
This will be the first match between the 41 year old Spaniard, and the Japanese, sixteen years his junior.
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The Grand Old Man of the Tour Lopez
Now 41, Lopez is the Grand Old Man of the ATP tour and only plays occasionally, combining that with his other role as a tournament organiser.
However, grass has long been his favourite surface. He was the first Spanish player to reach the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, something he has managed on three occasions.
And he has also appeared in six grass court finals, winning four of them, including Queen’s Club in 2017 and 2019.
He was the beaten finalist in Stuttgart in 2017.
This, though, will be only his fourth tournament of the year, and his first since losing in the opening round in Barcelona.
He has been given a wildcard into this event.
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Watanuki is Japanese Number Three
Currently the number three Japanese player, Watanuki’s greatest successes have come on the Challenger tour, where he has appeared in six finals, all of them on hard courts, winning three of them.
His most recent triumph came on home soil in Yokkaichi last November.
This has already been a historic season from his point of view, making his Grand Salm debut in Melbourne and his first appearance in a Masters in Miami, in both cases after coming through qualifying.
His French Open campaign ended at the second round of qualifying, but he has enjoyed better fortune in Stuttgart.
First he beat local men Henri Squire in three sets, and, then accounted for Benjamin Hassan of Lebanon in two sets, to earn his chance against Lopez.
Lopez v Watanuki Prediction and Tip
Normally, Watanuki might consider himself the favourite against a man ranked so much lower than him in the world. But so at home is the Spaniard on grass that he is tipped to make the second round, although he will not want the match to go to three sets because of his ageing legs.
Tips:
- Low Risk Tip: Lopez to win: 4/5
- Moderate Risk Tip: Under 21.5 games in the match: 5/4
The 2023 Stuttgart Open will be played from June 12 to 18. You can get all the tennis betting news with our tennis betting blog here. Also get rest of the tennis match previews here.
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