Tennis acca tips: Mirra Andreeva to cause another stir
- James Richardson
- 25 July 2023
Planet Sport presents ten picks from the singles action scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 26 July 2023.
The ATP and WTA Tours have a busy week, with each staging three events, and the tours coming together in Hamburg.
The Hamburg event is an ATP 500 and WTA 250 and is also known as the German Open.
Here we offer ten picks from the singles action scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 26 July 2023.
ATP Atlanta: Juncheng Shang vs Ben Shelton | Pick: Shelton
ATP Atlanta: Aleksandar Vukic vs Yoshihito Nishioka | Pick: Nishioka
ATP Atlanta: Thanasi Kokkinakis vs Alex De Minaur | Pick: De Minaur
ATP Hamburg: Laslo Djere vs Guido Pella | Pick: Djere
ATP Umag: Jiri Lehecka vs Dominic Thiem | Pick: Lehecka
ATP Umag: Sebastian Ofner vs Alexei Popyrin | Pick: Ofner
ATP Umag: Taro Daniel vs Roberto Carballes Baena | Pick: Carballes Baena
WTA Hamburg: Yulia Putintseva vs Jule Niemeier | Pick: Niemeier
WTA Hamburg: Tamara Korpatsch vs Daria Saville Gavrilova | Pick: Gavrilova
WTA Lausanne: Mirra Andreeva vs Anna Bondar | Pick: Andreeva
ATP Atlanta: Juncheng Shang vs Ben Shelton
Rising Chinese prospect Juncheng Shang will be out to provide a significant hurdle for Ben Shelton.
Shelton's momentum has stalled just a little after his surge into the top 50, but a return to home soil should be the balm for his ailments.
These players are yet to meet one another at any level, and Shang makes his first ATP main draw appearance since he qualified for the French Open.
Shang has just one main draw win to his name this season, with that coming all the way back at the Australian Open when he upset Oscar Otte.
ATP Atlanta: Aleksandar Vukic vs Yoshihito Nishioka
It has been five years since Yoshihito Nishioka beat Aleksandar Vukic at the Kobe Challenger, and it is the Japanese player who has enjoyed the better time since.
Nishioka is turning out for the first time since a first round loss at Wimbledon and should enjoy the return to hard courts.
Vukic is on a three-match losing streak since his second round exit from Wimbledon but is at a career-high ranking.
Vukic has won more matches this season, but he has been aided by his entry into a handful of Challenger events.
ATP Atlanta: Thanasi Kokkinakis vs Alex De Minaur
It's an all-Aussie battle as Thanasi Kokkinakis takes on defending champion Alex De Minaur in Atlanta.
De Minaur is out to claim his third title in Hot' Lanta, with the venue one of his favoured haunts on tour.
Incredibly this is the first time the compatriots will face each other at the ATP Tour level.
De Minaur was a finalist at Queen's, but on hard courts, things might be a little more level between himself and Kokkinakis, who will have the edge in terms of power.
ATP Hamburg: Laslo Djere vs Guido Pella
All four of the meetings between Laslo Djere and Guido Pella have come on clay, with the latter prevailing three of the four times they have clashed.
Djere battled past another Argentine in the first round as he secured a three set win over Tomas Martin Etcheverry in what might have been considered a minor upset on clay.
That win coupled with his superior form this term, points towards Djere gaining his first main draw win over Pella.
Notably, they have not met since 2019, with Djere since moving into his prime while Pella is creeping towards retirement.
ATP Umag: Jiri Lehecka vs Dominic Thiem
Jiri Lehecka faces a big test of his clay court credentials when he takes on Dominic Thiem at Umag.
Thiem can never be written off, especially on a surface that he favours but it is Lehecka who is enjoying the better season.
The Czech's star is definitely on the rise, but that doesn't mean he won't prize Thiem's scalp.
A win over a Major champion should be just the incentive Lehecka needs to claim a title.
ATP Umag: Sebastian Ofner vs Alexei Popyrin
Sebastian Ofner and Alexei Popyrin have met twice before splitting the meetings, although this will be their first clash on the full ATP Tour.
Popyrin won the first meeting between the two in Astana before Ofner bested him on the grass courts of Ilkley.
Ofner has a superior record on clay, both this season and across his career.
The German's experience should count for plenty and might guide him into the next round.
ATP Umag: Taro Daniel vs Roberto Carballes Baena
Being players of similar age and stature, Taro Daniel and Roberto Carballes Baena have met eight times already.
They clashed in four Futures tour meetings and a further four times on the full ATP Tour.
While Carballes Baena has won six of their eight meetings overall at ATP Tour level they are 2-2.
On clay it is Carballes Baena who should hold the big edge, though, and the Spaniard would be disappointed to go out at this stage.
WTA Hamburg: Yulia Putintseva vs Jule Niemeier
While Yulia Putintseva has nearly 50 rankings places on Jule Niemeier, it will be the latter that has the edge when they meet in Hamburg.
Niemeier is on home soil and faces a player whom she beat in their last head-to-head meeting.
Putintseva is in better form on clay, but that could count for little when they take to the court.
Niemeier had to find her touch during a come-from-behind first round win, and that close call should see her up her game.
WTA Hamburg: Tamara Korpatsch vs Daria Saville Gavrilova
Daria Saville Gavrilova looked to be close to her best in an opening-round win over Jasmine Paolini starting strong and holding off a concerted comeback.
The five hours she has spent on the court already in Hamburg may still be an advantage to Gavrilova at this stage.
Korpatsch is ranked higher than Gavrilova but struggled to put away Maria Lourdes Carle in the first round.
Gavrilova bested a player on a hot streak, and if she reaches her level will be tough to stop in a first-ever clash with Korpatsch.
WTA Lausanne: Mirra Andreeva vs Anna Bondar
Mirra Andreeva has become the talk of the WTA Tour this season, and she was in good touch to start her campaign in Lausanne.
Andreeva and Bondar will clash for the first time in Lausanne, with the Russian teen heavily favoured.
This is despite giving up a lot in terms of experience to Bondar.
Bondar was disappointing in Hungary last week and will need to raise her game to avoid another second round exit.
