ATP Estoril Day 1 Predictions Including Dominic Thiem vs Maximillian Marterer

Lucas Pouille vs Nuno Borges

Head-to-head: First meeting

Whenever Lucas Pouille’s comeback starts to grow arms and legs, it’s stopped in its tracks with a loss just as quickly as it arrived. There are plenty of reasons to get excited about the Frenchman’s game on paper but, for whatever reason, he can’t find the same consistency point to point that he did when he reached the top 10 in the world. Nuno Borges is accomplished on all surfaces but will be very comfortable on home clay where he’ll be willing to let Pouille beat himself.
Prediction: Borges in 2

Jurij Rodionov vs Cristian Garin

Head-to-head: Garin 1-0 Rodionov

Neither Jurij Rodionov or Cristian Garin will be feeling particularly confident but it’s Garin that is proving the most cause for concern. Garin had a terrible Golden Swing, normally his happy hunting ground, and hasn’t won any matches with any conviction this year. The Chilean has lost that feeling of impenetrability about his game that he used to possess. Rodionov may have lost a few matches recently but there’s no denying his game has increased in size to enter the top 100–he’ll be able to dictate proceedings here.
Prediction: Rodionov in 2

Dominic Thiem vs Maximillian Marterer

Head-to-head: Thiem 2-0 Marterer

Dominic Thiem’s confidence is shot. His last match was a one-sided loss to Lukas Neymayer on clay, showing how little the Austrian believes in his game right now. Okay, Maximillian Marterer errs more on the side of aggression than consistentcy which could fall into Thiem’s favour. Even if the match does get close, however, when the pressure is higher, Thiem no longer trusts his forehand.
Prediction: Marterer in 3