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The primary spherical will wrap up in Barcelona on Tuesday, with Alejandro Davidovich Fokina taking up Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka. Fifth-seeded Alex de Minaur may even be in Tuesday motion in opposition to Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs. Stan Wawrinka
Stan Wawrinka is within the twilight of a powerful profession. The Swiss gained three majors, all throughout the top of the careers of essentially the most prolific champions within the historical past of males’s tennis (Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer). His largest wins came visiting Nadal as soon as and Djokovic twice. However that was a decade in the past and the veteran now sits at No. 162 on the planet. He has one win this 12 months in seven tournaments. His final title got here all the way in which again in 2017.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is having fun with among the finest type of his profession. At world No. 30, he’s nonetheless off his best-ever mark of twenty first, nevertheless it’s nonetheless early within the season. Though he isn’t a standard Spanish clay-courter, he confirmed what he was able to final week in Monte-Carlo–reaching the semis earlier than taking place to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz.
This one ought to be reduce and dry for the Spaniard. Wawrinka is a sentimental favourite, however ADF is simply enjoying too properly proper now for an upset.
Cheryl choose: Davidovich Fokina in 2
Ricky choose: Davidovich Fokina in 2
(5) Alex de Minaur vs. Tomas Martin Etcheverry
This is among the higher matches on Tuesday’s docket. Like Davidovich Fokina, de Minaur made the semifinals final week in Monte-Carlo. He doesn’t have any titles but this season, however he steadily makes his method to the enterprise finish of tournaments. If he needs his first 2025 crown to be in Monte-Carlo, he’ll should hit the bottom operating.
Tomas Martin Etcheverry has endured a poor season. He’s an anemic 8-11 on the 12 months and he bowed out of the Monte-Carlo Masters within the second spherical. Clay is his most profitable floor, so whereas he’s gone off the boil, he’s nonetheless a tough first-round opponent. The Argentine is presently ranked No. 46 on the planet, with a profession excessive of 27 simply final 12 months.
Search for De Minaur to proceed on his profitable methods for some time but in Barcelona. He gained’t need to peak factor lengthy earlier than the French Open, however he’s as match as any participant on tour and fatigue gained’t be a problem at this level.
Cheryl choose: De Minaur in 2
Ricky choose: De Minaur in 2
