There are 10 first-round matches scheduled on Day 2 of the ATP Qatar ExxonMobil Open as the tournament enters a bright period. This article features world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz, who will face France’s Arthur Rinderknech. As always, we at LWOT will offer predictions for every match on the slate, but who will advance?
ATP Doha Day 2 Predictions
Zhizhen Zhang vs Roberto Carballes Baena
Head-to-Head: Zhang 1-0 Carballes Baena
Zhizhen Zhang has gained some much-needed momentum with a Challenger title in Brisbane last week and will be looking to make some noise here. Roberto Carballes Baena breezed past his qualifying matches, but he has been on a bad run of form for quite a while and does not have the big serve to bail him out when his baseline game is not clicking. I am taking the Chinese player in this one.
Prediction: Zhang in 3
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard vs Zizou Bergs
Head-to-Head: Perricard 2-0 Bergs
After two consecutive quarterfinals to start the season, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard has gone cold and is on a three-match losing streak heading into the Qatar Open. The Frenchman is making his debut here and will be looking to get off to a good start. Zizou Bergs has also lost momentum after a fantastic start to the season at the United Cup. However, the courts here are not the quickest, and he will like his chances of getting his teeth into some of the return games.
Prediction: Bergs in 3
Jiri Lehecka vs Jenson Brooksby
Head-to-Head: first meeting
#8 seed Jiri Lehecka has a great record at this tournament and will be leaning on it to win some matches and get his season going. The courts here are well-suited to his game as they are not too fast but fast enough for him to impose his aggressive shotmaking. Jenson Brooksby has had a tough luck with draws lately and once again finds himself against a high-quality opponent. Brooksby has the game to unsettle his opponents, but I like the firepower of Lehecka in this one.
Prediction: Lehecka in 3
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Moez Echargui
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Former world No.3 Stefanos Tsitsipas has shown his quality in patches this season, but he has been unable to put it all together and make a deep run at a tournament. He is still vulnerable on his backhand, but he doesn’t have to worry much about it in his opening match here. Moez Echargui is a wild card who plays most of his tennis on the Challenger circuit. He can hold his own but doesn’t have the weapons to bother or expose Tsitsipas’ weakness.
Prediction: Tsitsipas in 2
Carlos Alcaraz vs Arthur Rinderknech
Head-to-Head: Alcaraz 4-0 Rinderknech
Fresh and rested after his historic Australian Open triumph, Carlos Alcaraz will have his eyes set on the Qatar Open title and place himself amongst other legends of the past who have lifted this trophy. Arthur Rinderknech is a former semifinalist at this tournament, but he lacks the consistency to keep up with the Spaniard, and his serve alone won’t do enough damage.
Prediction: Alcaraz in 2
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images