Jaime Faria vs Otto Virtanen Prediction, Picks, Odds, H2H, July 15th

We’re back to the grind of multi-tournament weeks, as the ATP Tour returns with four tournaments on the schedule. Let’s head to the Nordea Open from Bastad, Sweden, and preview Jaime Faria vs Otto Virtanen.

Virtanen’s win probability is about 50%, while Faria is favored to win at 1.83 odds. The handicap is 0.5 games and the total games line is 22.5.

Our Faria vs Virtanen prediction is for Faria to win.

Jaime Faria vs Otto Virtanen Prediction: Trust More Natural Clay Courter

• Prediction: Faria to win
• Best Odds: 1.79
• Bookmaker: Pinnacle
• Stakes: 2/10

Odds updated at 1:00 am UK Time on July 15th, 2024. 

Unlike some of the other clay tournaments this week, the event in Bastad doesn’t tend to play all that quickly. That makes this tournament selection an odd one for Virtanen, whose swing-freely style is better off on quicker courts where points are shorter. The altitude of Gstaad would’ve also helped in that regard, even on the red clay.

Faria has had a decent year at lower levels and is the much more natural clay courter. His first serve is quietly strong. Playing against a relatively poor returner on a surface he’s not particularly fond of should allow Faria to find consistent holds, even on clay.

I’ll happily back him in what is nearly a pick ‘em kind of match.

Read on for more expert insights.

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Jaime Faria Recent Form

After a strong start to the 2024 campaign that saw him win several ITF Tour titles and then make a string of Challenger Tour quarterfinals or better (including a title in his home country of Portugal), Faria has cooled off a bit. Playing Andrey Kuznetsov and Virtanen – two players far from their best on clay – to qualify for the main draw might be just what the doctor ordered.

He may not have the most powerful game out there, but he does a pretty good job of holding his own on serve, and that alone should serve him pretty well in this matchup.

Throw in the much more consistent, solid game from the baseline and superior aptitude on the surface and I think he should be a clearer favorite.

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Otto Virtanen Recent Form

The primary highlight on Virtanen’s 2024 CV is his recent run through Wimbledon qualifying and the first round and nearly beating Tommy Paul in the second.

Other than that though, the Finn has been subpar. He’s almost 40 spots rankings-wise off his career best and he needed three sets to get through the opening round of qualifying against a relatively unknown player.

He’s got a losing record on clay this year and for his career and it’s not like that’s because he’s been stuck with tough draws. He simply plays ultra-aggressive tennis and has little to no margin for error in his game. That’s not the best approach on a surface that rewards smart tactical play and consistency from the baseline.

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Jaime Faria vs Otto Virtanen H2H – Stat of the Match

This is the first meeting between the two and the winner will move onto the main draw and occupy one of the wild card slots.

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