ATP - Munich Monday

Youzhny Mikhail (RUS) vs. Bachinger Matthias (GER)
The defending champion will start against local player Matthias Bachinger. The Russian likes to play in Munich playing the final in the last three years and managing to win the title against Cilic last year. Bachinger received a WC here because of his good results recently but that came on hard courts while on clay is yet to play a match this year, while Youzhny has only one. The German has a powerful serve, he is quick around the court but is incommoded by good retrievers and players who hit fast, has a powerful forehand while his backhand is more to keep him in rallies. Even that the Russian has only one match on clay this year should have a good accommodating match with the conditions in Munich.

Istomin Denis (UZB) vs. Stakhovsky Sergey (UKR)
Neither player impressed so far on clay and neither has points to defend here. Istomin has one match in plus then the Ukrainian giving a good test to Garcia Lopez in Barcelona. The surface is on fast side which should help both players as both are linked to faster grounds. H2h is 3-2 for the Uzbekistan player with one meeting on clay back in 2008.

Overall Istomin played better last year on the surface and also looks slight favorite on court, with his powerful serve and deep groundies he will have the upper hand as will push the Ukrainian way behind the baseline where is prone to errors. Also Stakhovsky has a powerful serve, he likes to charge the net to finish the point’s quickly as in long rallies is prone to errors, neither impressed on clay this year but overall Istomin has a better suited game for clay and we see him as the likely winner.

Kendrick Robert (USA) vs. Zeballos Horacio (ARG)
After he lost last week in Barcelona to Greul, the American continues to play on red clay. He isn’t used to play on European clay, which is slower, but with his rankings he will permit to play in French Open where he has a win back in 2009. He will meet Zeballos who is in good form on clay. The Argentine is a leftie with solid backhand, tough baseliner and good retrieving skills, he likes to play an aggressive tennis as finish the points quickly advancing at the net. Kendrick will depend a lot on serve and charging the net, but is hard to see him serving his way to win the match.

Baghdatis Marcos (CYP) vs. Benneteau Julien (FRA)
Marcos will open his campaign at the BMW Open against Julien Benneteau. He is looking to snap a six-match losing streak and overall has a good record in Munich having reached the semi-finals on both his previous visits in 2007 and 2010. But he is in poor form and despite the fast conditions here his serve is poor recently and can be attacked. Especially by Benneteau who has good retrieving skills and made a solid match against Nieminen in Barcelona after he managed to qualify. Slowly the Frenchman start to built his form and he will enter with some confidence against Baghdatis. H2h is 2-1 for the Frenchman but all meetings were close and expect another close affair here too. The Frenchman has overall the better serve and is a solid baseliner, he goes for his shots while Baghdatis has a much defensive approach on clay but the key of the match will be the poor serve of the Cypriot.