ATP tournament in Estoril, 1st round, Tuesday, 02.04.2024
While high-flyer Jannik Sinner is still celebrating his triumph in Miami, part of the tennis entourage has long since moved on. The current venue: Estoril in Portugal, on a completely different surface!
Preparations for the French Open have begun, and of course we are keeping a particularly close eye on the German representatives. One of them will enter the ring on Tuesday afternoon as the slight favorite. In my Altmaier Martinez tip, however, I’ll tell you why I think a Spanish winner is more likely
He is currently something of a German solo entertainer on the ATP Tour, leaving his colleagues far behind. Tennis fans in the country know: Alexander Zverev in top form, but after that? Nothing for a long time!
Daniel Altmaier had also imagined the first part of 2024 to be different. He won a measly two matches, including the Australian Open, one of which was curiously against Alexander Zverev.
Conversely, of course, this means that he was definitely not at his best in Miami either. He got away with a 6-2, 7-5 win against Harold Mayot, but the second round brought an early exit.
In the match against Jan-Lennard Struff, he lost 3-6, 3-6, which sounds clear. Now the 25-year-old is venturing onto a different surface and will play his first tournament on clay
Speaking of his first tournament, it will also be his first participation in the competition in Estoril. We remember: sand? There was something there! At the last French Open, he sensationally beat Jannik Siner in the 2nd round, crying tears of joy afterwards.
Altmaier can certainly handle the red clay, but a start like this on hard court is of course always very difficult at first, so it’s the famous little things that decide who wins and who loses.
It was almost three years ago that Altmaier and his current opponent, Pedro Martinez, faced each other for the first and so far only time. Back then, in 2021 in Kitzbühel, also on clay, the Spaniard prevailed 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
Altmaier is ranked 54th in the world rankings, with his rival a good 20 places behind. In our sports betting apps, the odds therefore paint a predictable picture, with the German ahead at an average of 1.65 to 2.10.
Pedro Martinez last competed here in Estoril in 2021 and his best result at this tournament, which is regarded as preparation for the French Open, is reaching the round of the best 16.
Eliminations in qualifying, strong results in smaller tournaments, injury-related breaks, Martinez has taken virtually everything he can in 2024
In Miami, he didn’t even make it into the main draw, but immediately afterwards he dared to serve for the first time on clay. And that was anything but bad, as he ended up on top at the Challenger in Girona!
Admittedly, the opponents – Vilius Gaubas, Marco Trungelliti, Jesper de Jong, Benjamin Hassan and Radu Albot – don’t read as challenging, but as we all know, the start of the season on a new surface is never easy.
Martinez only dropped one set in the course of this tournament, Altmaier will have been keeping a close eye on his performances. It’s probably not news to you all when I say: Spaniards? They love playing on the red clay!
My Martinez Altmaier tip
How is Daniel Altmaier coping in Estoril? The German is competing on clay for the first time this year and his preparations for the French Open are short. It’s important to have the right shots ready straight away without needing too long a warm-up period.
Pedro Martinez, however, has already made a successful start on clay, even winning a title. That’s a decisive indicator for me, and since Altmaier is really not in top form, my money is on him:
Martinez beats Altmaier!
