Ugo Humbert will be trying to remain red hot when he gets his week in Rotterdam started against Emil Ruusuvuori on Wednesday. First-round action is also wrapping up with a showdown between Jannik Sinner and Botic van de Zandschulp.
Emil Ruusuvuori vs. (7) Ugo Humbert
Humbert is playing the best tennis of his life right now, but a very tough situation awaits him at the ABN AMRO Open. The 18th-ranked Frenchman just triumphed in Marseille on Sunday, so he will get only two days off before beginning his Rotterdam campaign. Although both tournaments are indoors, the surfaces are different (Marseille was extremely slow; Rotterdam is somewhat fast)–so adjustments will have to be made.
Moreover, Humbert has to go up against Ruusuvuori in the opening round. Surprisingly, the 55th-ranked Finn is sweeping the head-to-head series 4-0. They faced each other three times last season, with Ruusuvuori prevailing twice on clay (Madrid and Rome) and once on grass (6-2, 6-7(6), 6-4 in ‘s-Hertogenbosch). Ruusuvori is off to a solid 7-3 start this year, so he is playing well enough to capitalize against a fatigued opponent in a matchup he obviously loves.
Pick: Ruusuvuori in 3
(1) Jannik Sinner vs. Botic van de Zandschulp
Sinner and Van de Zandschulp will be squaring off for the second time in their careers and for the second time this season. They also met in round one of the Australian Open, where Sinner began a trek to his first Grand Slam title with a 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 victory. The 22-year-old Italian has enjoyed more than two full weeks off since his triumph at Melbourne Park, so he should be ready to go in Rotterdam–where he finished runner-up to Daniil Medvedev last February.
Van de Zandschulp is a mediocre 3-4 so far in 2024, with two of his losses coming to opponents outside the top 80. The 66th-ranked Dutchman is playing at home, but he has never fared well in Rotterdam. Van de Zandschulp is 0-for-3 in qualifying attempts, lost in the first round in 2021, and took second-round setbacks each of the past two years. All signs point to this being one-way traffic for Sinner.
Pick: Sinner in 2
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