ATP Gstaad Day 3 Predictions Including Thiem vs Medjedovic
The post-Wimbledon altitude clay swing begins in Gstaad with a number of interesting names in the draw such as Roberto Bautista Agut, Stan Wawrinka, and Dominic Thiem. As always, we here at LWOT will preview and predict every match. Who do you think will win?
ATP Gstaad Day 3 Predictions
Zizou Bergs vs Jurij Rodionov
Head-to-head: Bergs 2-1 Rodionov
Bergs and Rodionov, born less than a month apart, have faced off three times across the past two grass seasons. This year, Rodionov had the first strike, beating Bergs 6-2 6-4 in the semifinals of Surbiton before the Belgian got his revenge in their Ilkely opener with a 6-1 in the third win. Both came out of qualifying, though Bergs’ road has been considerably tougher with a third-set tiebreak win over Thiago Seyboth Wild and a first round against Laslo Djere. Rodionov came through with wins over Mika Brunold and Maximilian Neuchrist before ousting a struggling Marc-Andrea Huesler, yet to drop a set. This match could go either way as we have seen previously but Rodionov’s game seems just a bit more suited to altitude clay.
Prediction: Rodionov in 3
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Yannick Hanfmann vs Daniel Altmaier
Head-to-head: Altmaier 1-0 Hanfmann
Hanfmann dominated Altmaier in their three meetings in exhibitions during the pandemic but it was Altmaier who got the win in their first pro meeting in Madrid earlier this year. Both have taken big steps this year, Altmaier with a Madrid quarterfinal and Hanfmann making one in Rome. Altmaier got a couple of decent wins at the Braunschweig Challenger, also beating Benjamin Bonzi in the first round here. After coming close to beating Taylor Fritz in his Wimbledon opener, Hanfmann opted to play the Bundesliga. Both players bring their best on clay and this match could really go either way but I will lean towards Hanfmann as he has a bit more power in his game, also making the final in Gstaad in 2017.
Prediction: Hanfmann in 3
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Miomir Kecmanovic vs Dominic Stricker
Head-to-head: first meeting
Since making the Estoril final, Kecmanovic is 5-10 with a pretty disappointing clay season from Monte Carlo onwards. The Serb managed to win just seven games in his last match against Diego Schwartzman at Wimbledon. Stricker has been the next big thing in Swiss tennis for the past couple of years and after finally qualifying for a slam for the first time at Wimbledon, the 20-year-old looks primed for a run here. Stricker has an explosive game and after taking out Arthur Fils in two tiebreaks in his opener, I see him as a favorite against Kecmanovic, who is struggling for confidence.
Prediction: Stricker in 2
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Dominic Thiem vs Hamad Medjedovic
Head-to-head: Medjedovic 1-0 Thiem
Medjedovic beat Dominic Thiem three months ago en route to his biggest Challenger title so far in Mauthausen, winning 7-6 6-2 in the semifinals. The young Serb has since managed to qualify for both Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Coming through qualifying, Medjedovic took out Federico Gaio and Otto Virtanen before coming back from a set down against Zhang Zhizhen. Thiem’s year has certainly not gone to plan but the Austrian showed some great determination and play at Wimbledon, pushing Stefanos Tsitsipas to 10-8 in the fifth set tiebreak in his first round. Thiem has played well in Gstaad in the past, winning the event back in 2015 and reaching the semifinals here last year. With the added pressure of potentially falling out of the Top 100 if he loses the match, I believe Thiem will avenge his Mauthausen loss.
Prediction: Thiem in 3
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
