ATP - Estoril Monday
Sousa Joao (POR) vs. Elias Gastao (POR)
All eyes will be on the all Portuguese first round match between Gastao Elias and Joao Sousa, the hopes of the Portugal tennis scene.Both are WC here and for both will be a great experience. Neither player is in good form, Gastao withdrawing from Recife Challenger stating that isn’t something serious. Gastao is more used with the Estoril conditions, he is 6/6 in Estoril over the years counting with the qualifications and will be for the third time in the main draw. Sousa is 5/3 with a win on the main draw as a qualifier back in 2008 but he came in poor form but he played recently on clay. Overall Gastao is more suited with the conditions, he is a small type of player with solid defense, he hasn’t a powerful serve but is reliable and also has good retrieving skills, in the past he trained with Federer in Estoril. Sousa has the better serve and goes for his shots, he plays a little bit more aggressive but we count on consistency here.
Anderson Kevin (RSA) vs. De Bakker Thiemo (NED)
Thiemo De Bakker could be well below his stats as he makes his return to the tour for the first time since Indian Wells. He also has cut ties with coach Huib Troost and will now begin working with former ATP player Raemon Sluiter.
He is coming after “after a nasty infection in my mouth and a subsequent radical treatment at the dentist” but he had problems as he suffered from the antibiotic against the infection and is yet to train properly recently. He hasn’t an easy match as even that Anderson isn’t on his favorite surface he managed to beat Cuevas in Barcelona and took a set to Fognini in Monte Carlo, but that on faster grounds. De Bakker is without rhythm and is hard to back him even that he is on his favorite surface, Anderson has the power in his game to feel comfortable behind the serve but this game stands at a flip of a coin.
Chardy Jeremy (FRA) vs. Mannarino Adrian (FRA)
A French affair in Estoril. Chardy is in poor form mainly due to his mental problems as he plays without confidence on court and that shows. “I had personal problems that made me lose my confidence. I think it shows on the court. I'm practicing very hard, and I hope I will be able to play better again.” – stated Chardy recently. They have a meeting back in 2006 and Chardy won in straight sets. Mannarino will make his debut on clay and overall isn’t on his favorite surface despite that he is a tough baseliner with solid defense is too impatient in long rallies. He has a solid serve and can punish Chardy due to his recent form.
A good first day in Estoril where three Portuguese will be in the field today. Rui Machado, the first of them will open the Estoril Open against Romanian Victor Hanescu. The Portuguese is in good form recently, he won the Marrakech Challenger and qualified for Barcelona and he plays a level above in Estoril where he reached the quarter-final last year. Also the Romanian showed some good form recently, he lost in third round in Barcelona against Ferrer but once more proved that he depends too much by serve, if that will enter he gains morale if not his game is down. "Victor Hanescu is a player with many years of circuit. Have much experience, but I think I am at my best level." – said the Portuguese. Machado is good baseliner who will force long rallies, he likes to dictate from the back of the court counting on opponent’s errors but also goes for his shots when he see an opportunity. He plays a level above in Estoril, the surface is on slow side and the high humidity will make things even slower, Hanescu will rely on his powerful serve and will try to out power his opponent but Machado has wins over Huta Galung, Crivoi, Teixeirra, Gensse, powerful hitters and with the home advantage on his side he will be up for the first match here.
Validates to