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  • ATP Barcelona: day 3 preview

    4/30/08 12:50 AM | David Cox
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    Tommy Robredo (6) vs Robin Haase

    Haase received a plum first round draw against Max Mirnyi. “The Beast” is about as home on clay as a South American on grass and it was a predictable drubbing, 6-2, 6-2 to the Dutchman. Haase is definitely one of the “young guns” to watch in coming years, he won the Sunrise super-challenger last month and then adapted his game successfully to clay in Valencia, making the quarters. It will be interesting to see how he fares against a clay specialist of real stature. Robredo has come into form in recent weeks but his confidence took a knocking in Monte Carlo after Nalbandian pounded him into the dust in round 3. I’m predicting Robredo in 3



    Ivo Karlovic (8) vs Albert Montanes

    Karlovic has got to be one of the most unlikely players ever to win a title on clay. Countless big servers before him have failed to conquer the red dust; Sampras, Rusedski, Kraijcek, Rafter, Ivanisevic among others. But the big Croat adapts his game to clay surprisingly well and picked up the Houston title last year. On the way he beat Montanes 7-6, 6-2, their only previous meeting. However things are going quite so well this year for Karlovic, he had to retire in Estoril and then lost in round 2 of Monte Carlo to Monfils, failing to fire a single ace in that match ! Montanes continues to struggle to get the wins at ATP level but he’s hanging on inside the top 100 with some challenger titles (Monza a few weeks ago). He achieved a welcome win over Granollers-Pujol in round 1

    Prediction: Karlovic in 2


    Wawrinka vs Schukin

    Ominously for Schukin, Wawrinka has beaten him twice before on clay and the odds are all in favour of the Swiss achieving the hat-trick. Schukin’s ranked over 100 places lower at 141. He benefited from Robby Ginepri self-destructing in a 6-4, 6-2 round 1 win. Wawrinka is unlikely to be so generous. He eased past a qualifier 6-3, 6-3 on Tuesday and as 14th seed here will be looking to get a few wins ahead of the upcoming masters. With Nalbandian waiting in the 3rd round having looked very vulnerable against Calleri on Tuesday, Wawrinka will fancy his chances of a potential upset there

    Prediction: Wawrinka in 2

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