ATP Gstaad, Atlanta, Umag: Preview and Predictions

Here goes a quick round-up of the draws for next week's ATP tournaments in Gstaad (Switzerland), Umag (Croatia) and Atlanta (USA).

ATP Gstaad

Roger Federer

The best draw of the week comes from Gstaad where the top two Swiss players, Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka headline their home event.  Federer had a tough week in Hamburg where he was pushed to three sets by Daniel Brands (R2) and Florian Mayer (QF) before suffering a surprise defeat to Federico Delbonis in the semi-finals.  He could once again, open up against Brands in round two and is likely to meet Ricardo Bautista-Agut in the quarter-finals.  Juan Monaco and Mikhail Youzhny are the other two seeds in this section, most likely battling to meet Federer in the semi-finals.

Wawrinka has looked pretty hot on the clay this year and should face few problems in making at least the quarter-finals.  The third seed, Janko Tipsarevic, continues to struggle this year and will once again, not be a safe bet on making it past the quarter-finals.  This week's Hamburg finalist, Delbonis has a reasonable draw as he looks to repeat his success with Thomasz Bellucci in the first round; however I think Marcel Granollers has a good shot at making the semi-finals with the out-of-form, Lukas Rosol up first.

1st Round Predictions: Brands to beat Chiudinelli in 2 tight sets, Granollers to beat Rosol in 2 sets, Delbonis to beat Bellucci in 3 sets and Stakhovsky to beat Kuznetsov in 3 sets

Moo's Final Prediction: Wawrinka d. Federer

ATP Umag

Richard Gasquet

Richard Gasquet headlines the Umag draw as he has taken the odd decision to go back to the clay courts for just this week.  He has a tough draw and I cannot see him having much motivation to do well this week; Florian Mayer or Gael Monfils will be a significant test in the quarter-finals.  Fabio Fognini is playing his third tournament in a row and having won his first two titles back-to-back in Stuttgart and Hamburg, I wonder if he will have enough in the tank to do the treble.  His draw is convincing though so I would back him to make the semi-finals.

Andreas Seppi and Alexandr Dolgopolov are the highest seeds in the bottom half, which looks paper thin in quality.  Tommy Robredo is also in this section, but he hasn't won a match since Wimbledon.  Victor Troicki has looked more solid of late and Bastad finalist, Carlos Berlocq, will also be once to watch in Croatia.

1st Round Predictions: Monfils to beat Pavic in 2 sets, Ramos to beat Mayer in 2 tight sets, Lorenzi to beat Klizan in 3 sets, Hajek to beat Robredo in 3 sets and Troicki to beat Veic in 2 tight sets

Moo's Final Prediction: F.Mayer d. Troicki

ATP Atlanta

John Isner

The first hard court event in America this summer will see the usual clan arrive in Atlanta.  I just cannot get excited by this draw, which features little depth, but does host Mardy Fish, who is playing his first match since Indian Wells when he made a brief comeback to the tour.  John Isner is here along with Kevin Anderson and both would be my picks to make the final.  I like to hunt out a few dark horses in the draw, but I am really struggling with this one.  Lleyton Hewitt, who had a great run on the grass, will be one to watch and could meet Isner in the semi-finals.

1st Round Predictions: Falla to beat Harrison in 3 sets, Ram to beat Donskoy in 2 sets, Kudla to beat Williams in 3 sets, Hewitt to beat Roger-Vasselin in 3 sets, Fish to beat Russell in 3 sets, Sock to beat Giraldo in 3 sets and Harrison to beat Matosevic in 2 tight sets

Moo's Final Prediction: Isner d. Anderson