Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP 's-Hertogenbosch match.
This match marks an important start to the grass-court season for Jordan Thompson, following his absence from the clay swing. The Australian typically thrives on grass and has twice reached the final at 's-Hertogenbosch. For Aleksandar Kovacevic, the tournament serves more as a preparatory step towards the hard-court season, as this surface is not among Kovacevic’s priorities.
Jordan Thompson
Jordan Thompson has shown consistent form on grass courts, recording 28 wins in 42 matches since 2022. He leads the head-to-head against Aleksandar Kovacevic (2-1) and dominated their previous grass-court encounter in Newport 2023 with a commanding 6:0, 6:1 victory. This season, Thompson has been particularly effective behind his first serve, winning 72.5% of points and averaging eight aces per match.
Aleksandar Kovacevic
Aleksandar Kovacevic has a modest grass-court record, with only four wins and eight losses. He managed just two victories on this surface last season. Since claiming a Challenger title in Cap Cana back in March, Kovacevic has suffered first-round eliminations in seven of his last eight tournaments. Kovacevic’s first serve has also been inconsistent, with a 59% success rate and an average of three double faults per match this year.
Jordan Thompson vs Aleksandar Kovacevic Prediction
Jordan Thompson is clearly the more accomplished player on grass and has already produced a convincing win over this opponent. With grass being one of his favoured surfaces, the Australian has every chance of repeating that result. Even a close win for Jordan Thompson presents good value here, making this a sensible option to back.
