The Asian swing is over and now the 2017 season is heading for its home stretch in Europe. It begins with a trio of 250-point tournaments in Stockholm, Antwerp, and Moscow. Two top 10 players (Grigor Dimitrov and David Goffin) are in action, while No. 11 Pablo Carreno Busta leads the Moscow field. Goffin is joined in Antwerp by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Nick Kyrgios.
Intrum Stockholm Open
Where: Stockholm, Sweden
Surface: Indoor hard
Prize money: 589,185 Euros
Points: 250
Top seed: Grigor Dimitrov
Defending champion: Juan Martin Del Potro
Draw analysis: Dimitrov could not have asked for a better draw as he looks to maintain his fine form and officially clinch a spot in the World Tour Finals. His nearest seed is Mischa Zverev, who did well to reach the U.S. Open fourth round but has otherwise struggled physically of late. Also in the top half of the bracket is an ice-cold Jack Sock, while Fabio Fognini does not appear to be at a level (on or off the court) that can seriously trouble Dimitrov right now.
The bottom half is far more intriguing as the home of Juan Martin Del Potro and U.S. Open runner-up Kevin Anderson. Both Yuichi Sugita and Jan-Lennard Struff have showcased stellar tennis in recent months and Denis Istomin captured his second career ATP title a few weeks ago in Chengdu. Del Potro is coming off a semifinal performance in Shanghai, where he re-injured his left wrist but still managed to beat Viktor Troicki in the quarters and take a set off eventual champion Roger Federer in the semis. Although it is not expected to be another long-term issue, the wrist could be a factor in Stockholm. Del Potro may have to open against Struff before possibly running into either Sugita or Istomin.
Hot: Grigor Dimitrov, Kevin Anderson, Juan Martin Del Potro, Yuichi Sugita, Denis Istomin, Jan-Lennard Struff
Cold: Jack Sock, Fernando Verdasco, Jeremy Chardy
Semifinal predictions: Grigor Dimitrov over Fabio Fognini and Hyeon Chung over Yuichi Sugita
Final: Dimitrov over Chung
European Open
Where: Antwerp, Belgium
Surface: Indoor hard
Points: 250
Prize money: 589,185 Euros
Top seed: David Goffin
2016 champion: Richard Gasquet (not playing)
Draw analysis: Goffin’s 2016 World Tour Finals bid took a hit when he lost to Diego Schwartzman in the Antwerp semifinals. The world No. 10 now looks to go two steps farther this time around and treat the home crowd in Belgium to a title. Based on current form, Goffin is the obvious favorite. He advanced to the U.S. Open fourth round despite being less than 100 percent and he won the Japan Open two weeks ago. Goffin and Schwartzman are on a collision course for another semifinal showdown, but Schwartzman’s draw is tough. The Argentine will likely kick off his campaign against Denis Shapovalov, while David Ferrer is a potential quarterfinal foe.
As is often the case wherever Nick Kyrgios shows up, anything could happen in the bottom half of the bracket. Kyrgios’ path to the final is not particularly problematic, but either Benoit Paire or Jared Donaldson could test him in the quarters. A similarly unpredictable Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is mired in a considerable slump, so an in-form Alexandr Dolgopolov may be in line for another strong result.
Hot: David Goffin, Diego Schwartzman, Alexandr Dolgopolov, Denis Shapovalov, Jared Donaldson, Peter Gojowyczk
Cold: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, David Ferrer, Pablo Cuevas, Ivo Karlovic, Joao Sousa
Semifinals: David Goffin over Diego Schwartzman and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga over Nick Kyrgios
Final: Goffin over Tsonga
VTB Kremlin Cup
Where: Moscow, Russia
Surface: Indoor hard
Prize money: $745,940
Points: 250
Top seed: Pablo Carreno Busta
Defending champion: Pablo Carreno Busta
Draw analysis: Surprisingly, the list of the last four Moscow champions is a somewhat impressive one: Richard Gasquet, Marin Cilic, Cilic again, and Carreno Busta. For the most part, though, this tournament is wide open to a motley crew of contenders. Carreno Busta is back to defend his title and owns a first-round bye along with Albert Ramos-Vinolas, Adrian Mannarino, and Philipp Kohlschreiber. Look no further than those names to know that this winner’s trophy is totally up for grabs.
Carreno Busta, who is in contention for what would be a stunning World Tour Finals berth, will have the Russian crowd against him in an opening matchup with either Andrey Kuznetsov or Danill Medvedev. Kohlschreiber and a red-hot Damir Dzumhur are possible semifinal opponents for the No. 1 seed. In the bottom half of the bracket, U.S. Open quarterfinalist Andrey Rublev could make life difficult for both Ramos-Vinolas and Mannarino. Rublev’s draw is extremely favorable, so he should at least be able to book a spot alongside Ramos-Vinolas in the quarters.
Hot: Pablo Carreno Busta, Albert Ramos-Vinolas, Adrian Mannarino, Andrey Rublev, Damir Dzumhur, Paolo Lorenzi
Cold: Blaz Kavcic, Andreas Seppi, Lukas Rosol, Konstantin Kravchuk, Ricardas Berankis, Teymuraz Gabashvili
Semifinals: Philipp Kohlschreiber over Pablo Carreno Busta and Adrian Mannarino over Andrey Rublev
Final: Mannarino over Kohlschreiber
Comments and your own predictions are appreciated!
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