Tuesday's tennis acca tips: Montpellier and Linz picks as big names return

The Open Sud De France in Montpellier hosts a stellar field this week while handy rankings bumps are available for the players who have made their way to Linz for the WTA 500 event.

Denis Shapovalov is back in action despite pulling out of Davis Cup duty this week.

French players dominate the field but few will draw the interest of Gael Monfils.

 

ATP Montpellier: Bernabe Zapata Miralles vs Constant Lestienne | Pick: Lestienne

ATP Montpellier: Flavio Cobolli vs Gael Monfils | Pick: Monfils

ATP Montpellier: Harold Mayot vs Lucas Pouille | Pick: Pouille

ATP Montpellier: Hugo Gaston vs Denis Shapovalov | Pick: Shapovalov

ATP Montpellier: Maximilian Marterer vs Arthur Cazaux | Pick: Cazaux

WTA Linz: Angelique Kerber vs Lucia Bronzetti | Pick: Kerber

WTA Linz: Clara Burel vs Sinja Kraus | Pick: Burel

WTA Linz: Petra Martic vs Katerina Siniakova | Pick: Siniakova

 

ATP Montpellier: Bernabe Zapata Miralles vs Constant Lestienne 

Bernabe Zapata Miralles may have a 1-0 head-to-head lead over his opponent and rankings superiority but the home hope Constant Lestienne will be a tough nut to crack in Montpellier.

Both players are chasing a first main draw win of the season having lost their Australian Open first-round matches.

Zapata Mirallas notched a pair of wins to qualify for the Adelaide International but also lost his first round match there.

Their last meeting came at Challenger level and this will be the first time they meet in a full ATP Tour event.

 

ATP Montpellier: Flavio Cobolli vs Gael Monfils

Flavio Cobolli enjoyed a decent run at the Australian Open but was handed a tough first round draw in the shape of French veteran Gael Monfils.

Monfils might feel that Montpellier is his best shot at winning another title on home soil.

Monfils is among the former champions in the field and usually plays well in Montpellier.

Cobolli has encouraging results at his back but has to get right back to the grind or face early elimination.

 

ATP Montpellier: Harold Mayot vs Lucas Pouille

An All-French encounter sees former Montpellier champion Lucas Pouille face Harold Mayot.

Pouille has increasingly limited his participation in events to clay court tournaments but will make his 2024 ATP Tour bow on hard courts in the South of France.

Mayot is ranked above Pouille by some distance but he certainly won't feel like the favourite in this clash.

Mayot is also playing his first ATP Tour main draw match this season having fallen in the final qualifying round for the Australian Open.

 

ATP Montpellier: Hugo Gaston vs Denis Shapovalov

Denis Shapovalov has sparked the Davis Cup debate again as he seemingly wasn't fit enough to play for Canada but is prepared to commit to the ATP 250 Open Sud de France.

The draw hasn't done the Canadian too many favours in his quest for a first win of the season.

Hugo Gaston may only be ranked No 88 but he is another home player with a point to prove in a crowded race for Olympic spots.

The Olympics don't appear a terrific concern for Shapovalov but he should still be able to pull off a first win of 2024 here.

 

ATP Montpellier: Maximilian Marterer vs Arthur Cazaux

Maximilian Marterer has a chance to bloody the nose of French Tennis' presumptuous poster boy Arthur Cazaux.

Cazaux impressed in claiming a Challenger title before a run to the Australian Open fourth round.

His German opponent might look at a player on the up with some envy given how he appears to have stagnated.

Cazaux will be tested but should come through this clash and continue his rise. 

 

WTA Linz: Angelique Kerber vs Lucia Bronzetti

Former world No 1 Angelique Kerber may have won the United Cup with Germany but she suffered four singles losses in five matches.

That run hasn't done much for her win-loss record but it did give her some tough lessons.

Kerber won the only previous meeting between the players albeit some time ago and on grass.

Stats suggest that Bronzetti should have an edge in this encounter but Kerber is getting closer to finding her level on her return to the game. 

 

WTA Linz: Clara Burel vs Sinja Kraus

Clara Burel and Sinja Kraus have had 2024 campaigns that are worlds apart.

Burel has been playing at a far higher level, reaching the third round of a Grand Slam while Kraus makes her season debut in the WTA 500 event in Linz.

Burel should be able to put the home player away and progress to secure a spot in the top 50 of the rankings.

Kraus will need more than home support to get beyond a player in form.

 

WTA Linz: Petra Martic vs Katerina Siniakova

Just one ranking place separates Petra Martic and Katerina Siniakova but the latter holds a clear edge.

Siniakova has won both of their previous meetings, doing so without dropping a set.

In both of those wins Siniakova took the first set 6-4 which is worth noting for its potential to reoccur.

Siniakova had a disappointing 2023 and slid while other players from her nation have gained prominence, she should be motivated to get her 2024 rolling.