Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Hamburg match.
This match carries particular weight for Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who will be looking to make amends after a disappointing early elimination in the Round of 64 at the Rome Masters.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Despite suffering a heavy defeat to Jesper de Jong in Rome (0:6, 2:6), Alejandro Davidovich Fokina has delivered a respectable showing during the clay season. In Madrid, he was eliminated in the Round of 32 but faced a formidable opponent in Alexander Zverev, currently third in the ATP rankings. The match was tightly contested, with Davidovich Fokina pushing it to two tie-breaks (6:2, 6:7, 6:7). Before that, he reached the quarter-finals in Barcelona, where he was narrowly edged out by Karen Khachanov (4:6, 5:7).
Gaël Monfils
Gaël Monfils has had minimal involvement on clay this season, featuring in just three matches and losing twice. He pulled out of Madrid due to injury and missed the Rome Masters for the same reason. At 38, concerns around his fitness persist. His strengths have long been associated with hard courts, and at present, he seems to be managing his workload carefully.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Gaël Monfils Prediction
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina appears highly motivated to respond after his underwhelming performance in Rome. With Gaël Monfils lacking match sharpness, this encounter offers a prime opportunity for the Spaniard to reassert himself. A one-sided match seems likely here.
