Atp 250 Estoril - Day 1
Altmaier D. vs. Martinez P.
Altmaier comes from a rather poor start to the season and could initially struggle with the surface change coming from the Miami hardcourt, but in the long run, he could take the upper hand. Remember that he likes to vary especially after the serve, perhaps with a short ball which is always a good solution on this surface. Martinez, being Spanish, is always a threat on these courts, and in addition to experience, he also has the advantage of having only played on similar courts, achieving good results. I predict a very hard-fought match that could possibly end in the third set with the victory of the German.
Fils A. vs. Sousa J.
Fils has had a very erratic start to the season and has not achieved significant results. However, he is very confident on this surface, especially against an opponent like the Portuguese who is not very strong. Fils could return to victory easily. Sousa, on the other hand, has the home advantage and is also a decent player on clay, but the difference in quality is too clear to be a problem for Fils. Additionally, Sousa's tendency to shorten the game will expose him to Fils' drop shots.
Choinski J. vs. Fonseca J.
Choinski has played a couple of challenger tournaments on clay as preparation for this event, winning two matches against weaker opponents. However, his powerful game and constant risk-taking may not pay off much on this surface, especially since he often gifts points to opponents, particularly under pressure. Fonseca, on the other hand, has regained confidence after a period of poor results following his impressive run at Rio where he reached the semifinals at just 17 years old. As a specialist on this surface, he is expected to have an easy time, but he must be aggressive and play attacking tennis to avoid succumbing to Choinski's heavy shots.
Rocha H. vs. Monfils G.
Rocha, a Portuguese born in 2004, is now approaching the big circuit, showing promising performances in Spanish challenger tournaments. However, he will face a much superior opponent in Monfils. Monfils, on the other hand, has returned to very high levels and is known for his unpredictable playing style, which could confuse his opponent and lead to many errors. I predict a one-sided match, although Monfils will need to be cautious of the surface change.