Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Halle match.
Andrey Rublev has twice reached the final in Halle and began his 2025 campaign in confident fashion, dispatching the solid Sebastian Ofner in straight sets. His next opponent is Argentina’s Tomás Martín Etcheverry, a player whose strengths are typically more suited to slow courts.
Andrey Rublev
Andrey Rublev opened his grass-court season with a dominant performance, defeating Sebastian Ofner 6:3, 6:4. He won 100% of points (31) behind his first serve and did not face a single break point throughout the match. Halle has traditionally been a strong venue for him: whenever Rublev wins his opening match here, he reaches at least the quarter-finals. The Russian also appears to be in good mental shape, having claimed victory in eight of his last ten matches.
Tomás Martín Etcheverry
Tomás Martín Etcheverry secured a convincing win over Pedro Martínez in the first round. He has consistently struggled on grass: over the course of his career, he has managed just four wins in thirteen matches on the surface and has never progressed beyond the second round. While his powerful serve and physical presence can occasionally earn him games, these assets are unlikely to be enough against Andrey Rublev. The two players met once before, on a hard court in 2024, with Andrey Rublev emerging as the winner.
Andrey Rublev vs Tomás Martín Etcheverry Prediction
The gap in grass-court proficiency is clear. Andrey Rublev is far better equipped for matches on fast surfaces, whereas Tomás Martín Etcheverry continues to face difficulties. We expect Rublev to close out the match efficiently and move on to the next round.
