Article

  • ATP Valencia round 1 previews

    4/15/08 1:43 AM | David Cox
    - It's the traditional start to the European clay-court season and often throws up some surprise champions with the damp spring weather slowing down the courts and the favourites still adjusting after a month or more on US hard

    Nicholas Almagro, Igor Andreev and Alberto Martin are all recent champions who wouldn't have been the punters choice at the start of the week

    Igor Andreev (6) vs Evgeny Korolev

    Andreev, the surprise package of last year’s clay-court season (he beat Roddick and Baghdatis on the way to his first slam quarter-final) returns to the scene of his first ATP title. The Russian stormed onto the scene here in 2005, beating Nadal and Ferrer. The win over Nadal was particularly significant, it was the last time he lost on clay for 81 matches, a streak which lasted over 2 years ! However, Valencia hasn’t been a happy hunting ground since for Andreev, he’s lost at the first hurdle to Safin and Volandri the past two years. Despite a lacklustre Davis Cup performance against Stepanek on Friday I’d expect Andreev to avoid the hat-trick against Korolev, a player hailed as the next big thing for Russian tennis not that long ago but like cousin Anna Kournikova, he’s yet to live up to the hype and toppled out of the top 100 after a poor 2007

    Prediction: Andreev in 2


    Simone Bolelli vs Potito Starace

    Both these players face a tough transition after spending the weekend playing a Euro-African zone tie against Croatia on a super-fast indoor surface, about as different from clay as you can get ! Bolelli impressively defeated Karlovic on day 1 but unsurprisingly lost the decisive final rubber to Ancic. Starace only played the doubles and so goes into this a little fresher. He also holds a 21 place ranking advantage over his compatriot (Starace’s currently at no 36) and a 3-0 head-to-head lead, all matches coming on the clay - most notably in Barcelona last year when Starace won 6-4, 6-3. While Bolelli was raising a few eyebrows in Miami, taking out Kohlschreiber and nearly dumping eventual winner Davydenko out in round 3, Starace was picking up his first title of the year, winning the Napoli super-challenger.

    Prediction: Starace in 3


    Robredo vs Montanes

    Robredo has been woefully out of sorts so far in 2008, in Miami he was outplayed by the Israeli journeyman Dudi Sela in round 1. Sela is a quality player but he’s never going to make waves at the top end of the game and not so long ago Robredo was in the top 5. Right now he seems to be suffering from a confidence crisis which is strange given the way he ended 2007. However there’s nothing red clay for making a Spaniard’s mood sunnier and Robredo could hardly be happier with his round 1 draw against Albert Montanes, a player he “owns” on the tennis court, with a 9-0 record against him. Montanes hasn’t won a set off Robredo since 1998 and his form in ATPs has also left much to be desired recently. However he comes into this with confidence high after winning the Monza challenger last week.

    Prediction: Montanes to give his countryman their toughest match so far but Robredo to still win in 3

Tell a friend »

Comments


Write comment

You have to be logged in to comment. If you do not have an account, click here to register. It only takes a minute and you'll be redirected back to this page.
Username:

Password: