OPEN SUD DE FRANCE
Phillip Kohlschreiber over Rado Albot
Kohlschreiber is playing well in 2019, having won his two Davis Cup matches this weekend. He lost a tough, long five-setter to Joao Sousa of Portugal, in the second round of the Australian Open, who he probably would have beaten a few years ago when he was younger. I might be concerned that the 35-year-old would be tired, but he had a full week’s worth of rest by losing early in Melbourne, and Albot shouldn’t present much of a problem. Albot, ranked 96 in the world, from Moldova, took out American rookie Michael Mmoh in four in Melbourne before getting crushed by Fernando Verdasco in three straight sets. And the fact remains that Albot just doesn’t win much (only 39% of the time) on the Tour, despite his ranking. I like the German . . . as usual.
Jo-Willie Tsonga over Ugo Humbert
Jo-Willie looked to me like he has recovered nicely from his recent injury, surgery and recovery. He gave Djokavic a bit of a match in the Australian Open -- something no one else other than Shapovalov was able to do -- after taking out the tough Martin Klizan (ranked 40th in the world) in three straight sets. When two players from the same country play, the match is about more than just tennis. Think of McEnroe/Connors, Agassi/Sampras, Courier/Sampras, Laver/Rosewall, and Federer/Wawrinka, especially the first match. One player tries to dominate the other for future dominance, for local bragging rights, for national ranking and recognition, and for sponsorship deals. Well, this match will be the first between Tsonga and Humbert, both proud Frenchmen. They both stand 6-foot-2, but the 33-year-old Tsong weighs 205 pounds and the 20-year-old Humbert weighs in at only 158. This should tell you all you need to know. Tsonga will push Humbert all around the court and take their first match.
Pierre-Hugues Herbert over Denis Kudla
Although this should be a close match, the 6-2 Frenchman, Herbert, should come out on top over American Denis Kudla. Herbert has the advantage in ranking and win/loss percentage, but Kudla has won the only match played between them, on grass at Wimbledon in 2015. However, Herbert has been playing well lately, particularly his serve and his volley, and I think being at home in Montpellier should help the Frenchman. I’d say Herbert in three close sets.
SOFIA OPEN
Stan Wawrinka over Marius Copil
Wawrinka is trying to play his way back into shape and become match tough. He should be able to use this match as a springboard into a tough second-round match with Fernando Verdasco. Wawrinka holds a 2-0 lifetime edge in head-to-head matches over Copil having had wins on both clay and hard courts, but because of Stan’s layoff because of injury he is ranked No. 57 to Copil’s No. 56. The Romanian was able to take out the tough Marcel Granollers in three straight sets in the Australian Open before succumbing to David Goffin in four, but he’s more effective on a slower surface. However, whether it’s on slow clay or fast hard courts, Wawrinka is the more complete and polished player.
Gael Monfils over Viktor Troicki
These two 32-year-olds have played four times with Monfils winning them all, three of them in straight sets. But they haven’t played since 2015, so Troicki has the opportunity to change the momentum. Unfortunately for him, he probably won’t. Monfils is one of the very best athletes on the Tour, and although he disappointed at the Australian Open, he is still very dangerous and very good. Troicki is trying to get back to where he was a couple of years ago and is finding the going a bit tricky, although he’s progressing reasonably well. The Serbian had to win three qualifying matches to get into the main draw before he won his first round match over Carballes Boena in five, and then lost to Tsitsipas in four at the Australian Open. I expect Troicki to put up a good fight, but Monfils must be upset for losing to American Taylor Fritz in the second round in Melbourne. He should come out firing on all cylinders.
Martin Klizan over Mirza Basic
The two have met three times — twice in the past year alone — with Klizan coming out on top each time. Klizan has a lot more experience, and is a lefty to boot, and is coming off a Davis Cup weekend where he split his matches, beating Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets and losing in straight sets to Denis Shapovalov, both of Canada. Basic, on the other hand, lost his only match, to Australia’s Alex De Minaur, 6-3, 7-6. Klizan is playing better and has the confidence to overcome Basic, although this will probably go three sets.