Home / Sports / Clay court season heats up: Navone, Hanfmann, Rinderknech tipped
Clay court season heats up: Navone, Hanfmann, Rinderknech tipped
14 Jul
Summary
- Mariano Navone is favored in the softer third quarter of the Bastad tournament.
- Yannick Hanfmann and Arthur Rinderknech are strong contenders in Gstaad due to altitude.
- Daniel Merida is a long-shot bet in Umag, showing promise on clay.
The ATP Tour embraces the European clay court season with tournaments in Bastad, Gstaad, and Umag, offering players a final chance to shine on the surface post-Wimbledon.
In Bastad, while Andrey Rublev and Luciano Darderi are seeded, Mariano Navone is identified as a strong candidate in his quarter, having already secured a 250 title this season and delivered notable performances against top players. His clay-court form and motivation position him well.
The Gstaad event, held at high altitude, presents unique conditions favouring players adept at handling faster balls and maintaining control. Yannick Hanfmann, with a history of success at altitude, and Arthur Rinderknech, bolstered by a strong Wimbledon showing, are seen as promising bets.
In Umag, Daniel Merida emerges as a noteworthy outsider. Despite being new to the main tour this season, he has reached a final and holds a winning ATP-level record, adapting well to clay and high temperatures.
