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Adrian Menendez-Maceiras and Kyle Edmund will square off in the 3rd qualifying round in Paris, with a place on the Roland Garros main draw on the line.
At 30 years of age, Menendez-Maceiras is enjoying his highest ever ranking at No. 113. However, the spaniard is not in particularly good form and he hasn’t done much on clay this season. One of the few Spaniards that fancies hard courts better than clay courts, Menendez-Maceiras played a single tournament on this surface prior to Roland Garros, where he was far from impressive, despite reaching the quarterfinals – getting beat 4-6 4-6 by Bhamrbi after struggling against two players out of Top 300. Here in the Roland Garros qualifiers he got past Jarry in two sets and Samper Montana in three sets.
I expected Edmund to lose in the second round against Hanescu, but instead the Brit produced a shockingly solid performance to win 6-1 6-2. His forehand was devastating according to British newspapers and Edmund himself said that it was an excellent match and that he`s feeling as good as ever. The young Brit is clearly more suited for hard courts and his results on clay this season weren’t too good, but it seems he found his rhythm on the fast clay in Paris. Prior to Hanescu, he defeated Gerard Melzer in three sets.
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The pair met once, in 2014, with the Head 2 Head reading a 1-0 advantage for Menendez-Maceiras – who won the meeting in a deciding set tiebreak. This will be the first meeting on clay, a surface on which Menendez-Maiceiras is slightly more suited for, despite both players preferring hard courts.
I was critical of Edmund’s abilities on clay in my pick yesterday and obviously he`s not a great player on this surface, even though he did win the Junior Doubles tournament here in Paris 2 years ago. But he backed up the win against Melzer by demolishing Hanescu and he’s playing his best ever tennis clay, as he himself stated. Obiously he benefited from a poor performance by Hanescu, but Menendez-Maceiras isn`t exactly a better player, or in better form than the Romanian. And, very importantly, he`s not a clay court specialist either. Both of Edmund’s opponents so far looked to be much more dangerous than the Spaniard.
If Edmund brings the same intensity, not making errors and blasting power forehands in the corner, he should win this rather easily. He`s having a good season, he`s in great shape and the courts in Paris are fast – these factors combined making up for the fact that clay is his worst surface. My tip is Edmund to win. Prediction: Adrian Menendez-Maceiras – Kyle Edmund 4-6 4-6.
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Pick: Edmund
Odds: 1.83 @ William Hill
Stake: 9
Possible profit: 7.47
Event date: 22 May
