- Mubadala Citi DC Open Men’s and Women’s Tennis Draws
- Paris Olympic Tennis Draws and Order Of Play for Saturday, July 27, 2024
- Kitzbuhel Generali Open Draws and Order of Play for Friday, July 26, 2024
- Paris Olympic Tennis Singles and Doubles Draws
- Croatia Open Umag Draws and Schedule for Friday, July 26, 2024
- Atlanta Open Draws and Order of Play for Thursday, July 25, 2024
- Croatia Open Umag Draws and Schedule for Thursday, July 25, 2024
- Laver Cup Tennis 2024 Is in Berlin September 20-22 • Almost all the top men’s players will be playing
- Coco Gauff Named Team USA Flag Bearer for Olympic Games
- Kitzbuhel Generali Open Draws and Order of Play for Wednesday, July 24, 2024
- Croatia Open Umag Draws and Schedule for Wednesday, July 24, 2024
- Atlanta Open Draws and Order of Play for Tuesday, July 23, 2024
- Fils upsets Zverev for Hamburg title, Borges beats Nadal in Bastad
- Kitzbuhel Generali Open Draws and Order of Play for Tuesday, July 23, 2024
- Croatia Open Umag Draws and Schedule for Tuesday, July 23, 2024
ATP Tennis • Ricky’s Preview And Picks For The 250-point Tournaments In Lyon And Geneva
- Updated: May 20, 2018
Photo by @OpenParcARA via Twitter
By Ricky Dimon
By the standards of 250-point tournaments immediately preceding majors, Lyon and Geneva feature impressive player fields. You can always count on Dominic Thiem to turn up no matter the circumstances, and that is exactly what he is doing in Lyon this week. The world No. 8 is joined by John Isner, Jack Sock, Hyeon Chung, and Gael Monfils. In Geneva, Switzerland’s own Stan Wawrinka headlines the draw along with Sam Querrey, Fabio Fognini, and David Ferrer.
Open Parc Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Lyon
Where: Lyon, France
Prize money: 501,345 Euros
Top seed: Dominic Thiem
2017 champion: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (not playing)
Thiem has often overworked himself in the early stages of his career, but his participation in this particular 250-point event actually makes some sense. Aside from a Madrid upset of Rafael Nadal, the Austrian has underwhelmed on clay and therefore has not played too many matches. Additional confidence can be had prior to the French Open, and Thiem should be able to acquire some in Lyon. Sock and Joao Sousa are his most dangerous opposition in the top half of the bracket, but the top seed cannot meet either one until the semifinals. Thiem’s potential second-rounder against Roberto Carballes Baena, however, could at least provide some intrigue.
Anything could happen in the other half. Isner has not done much on clay since winning the biggest title of his career at the Miami Masters, Chung is struggling with both form and physical problems, and Monfils is a shadow of his former self right now. John Millman and Maximilian Marterer are among those who could take advantage.
Semifinal picks: Dominic Thiem over Joao Sousa and Maximilian Marterer over John Millman
Final: Thiem over Marterer
Banque Eric Sturdza Geneva Open
Where: Geneva, Switzerland
Prize money: 501,345 Euros
Top seed: Sam Querrey
Defending champion: Stan Wawrinka
When Fognini is arguably the most reliable player with an opening-round bye, you know the title is completely up for grabs. Querrey has not won a match since the Miami second round, Wawrinka’s comeback has been discouraging, and Ferrer sports a record of a grand total of 0-1 in clay-court events this spring. Fognini, on the other hand, halted a three-match losing streak by advancing to the Rome quarters and stealing a set off Nadal.
Wawrinka’s quarter is by far the most difficult, as it includes a trio of talented Americans—Jared Donaldson, Frances Tiafoe, and Ryan Harrison. The winner of a first-round battle between Harrison and Tiafoe will meet either Albert Ramos-Vinolas or Marton Fucsovics, while Wawrinka awaits Donaldson or Denis Istomin for his opener. Querrey could be challenged early at the top of the draw by Guido Pella and Steve Johnson. Fognini has the friendliest draw of the four, while Ferrer may have a rough opener on his hands against Ivo Karlovic or Peter Gojowyczk.
Semifinal picks: Albert Ramos-Vinolas over Guido Pella and David Ferrer over Tennys Sandgren
Final: Ramos-Vinolas over Ferrer