TipResumen

PREVIEW

This is a First Round match that both Jiri Vesely and Corentin Moutet have to be very contented with as they will feel it represents a very strong chance to pick up some vital Ranking points. Neither player has really made a decision to take in some hard court matches to build the confidence ahead of the US Open with just a single match between them being played on this surface over the last month. Neither player has played more than ten matches on the hard courts in 2018 and both Vesely and Moutet have a losing record on the surface. However it can't be ignored that the majority of Vesely's matches have come in main ATP Tour events compared with his opponent who has spent more time in Challenger and Qualifying events. With that in mind you would expect Moutet has the stronger hard court numbers having competed at a lower level than Vesely, but surprisingly that has not been the case and so I do like the Czech player to progress. This is only the second time Moutet will have played a match at ATP main Tour level on the hard courts and so seeing his 68% hold percentage on the hard courts looks a very disappointing number. That could give a limited returner like Vesely a chance to have more success on that side of his game than he usually enjoys and it should make a big difference for a player who has a very strong 85% hold percentage on the hard courts in 2018. Confidence is something that is hard to really pick in this match with neither player at their very best on the hard courts and potentially not enjoying the surface as much as others. That is arguably the biggest threat to Vesely's chances of making it through to the Second Round in this tournament, but I think he is the better player on the hard courts and can show that. If Vesely serves as he can, I think Moutet will be put under immense pressure on the scoreboard and I like the Czech player to get this done in three or four sets.



PREDICTION

It is going to be a close match, but Jiri Vesely has played at a higher level on the hard courts and I think he wins this in three or four sets.