ATP Basel Day 1 Predictions Including Murray vs Hanfmann

Mar 9, 2023; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Andy Murray (GBR) hits a shot in his first round match against Thomas Martin Etcheverry (not pictured) on day 4 of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Get ready for an action-packed opening day at the ATP 500 event in Basel! Despite a few player withdrawals, the tournament boasts a star-studded field. One of the standout players on the first day is three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray. With five matches set to take place, the excitement is palpable. At LWOT, we have analyzed the matchups and made predictions for every contest in Basel. We’ve also prepared a separate article with predictions for the first day in Vienna. Who do you think will come out on top?>/p>

ATP Basel Day 1 Predictions

Sebastian Baez vs Christopher O’Connell

Head-to-head: Baez leads 1-0 against O’Connell

Baez displayed great improvement on hard courts during his recent title run in Winston-Salem. However, his form has dipped since then, with three losses in his last four matches. On the other hand, O’Connell has been having the best season of his career so far. Despite being relatively new to the ATP main draw indoors, O’Connell is expected to give Baez a tough challenge. This match is likely to be closely contested, but Baez’s superior firepower with his forehand could be the deciding factor in Basel.

Prediction: Baez in 3

Embed from Getty Images

Christopher Eubanks vs Jan-Lennard Struff

Head-to-head: First meeting

Both Eubanks and Struff had similar experiences last week, with close losses in tiebreakers. With their powerful serves and average return abilities, this match is set to be a tightly contested battle. Struff, who has been improving since returning from a lengthy injury layoff, has the slight edge in Basel. His recent performance against a formidable opponent in Antwerp speaks volumes about his potential. Meanwhile, Eubanks’ level has been inconsistent since his impressive run at Wimbledon, which may lead to his downfall.

Prediction: Struff in 3

Embed from Getty Images

Botic van de Zandschulp vs Roberto Bautista Agut

Head-to-head: First meeting

After a three-month injury layoff, Bautista Agut returned to the ATP Tour last week. Although he didn’t perform well in Stockholm, his indoor game is superior to van de Zandschulp’s. Van de Zandschulp, despite losing in the round-of-16 in Antwerp, managed to come through the qualifying draw in Basel. However, it’s challenging to imagine him bouncing back enough from his recent form to defeat Bautista Agut.

Prediction: van de Zandschulp in 3

Sebastian Korda vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry

Head-to-head: Korda leads 2-0 against Et

Reference