tennis | Thursday, February 2, 2023 9:37 AM

Thursday Tennis Best Bet: ATP Challenger Koblenz, Maximilian Marterer vs Adrian Andreev

Jon Reid

Maximilian Marterer vs Adrian Andreev Best Bet: Thursday, February 2nd

Well, a promising 6-3, 3-2 start totally evaporated as Zhizhen Zhang totally collapsed in the 2nd set to cost us the bet. Not sure if he was injured or had no interest in continuing in Koblenz for whatever reason. From 55% return points won against a poor server in the opening set to rushed play, lackadaisical errors and just 2 of the next 34(!) points won on return. Was certainly a drastic shift in play.

Onto Thursday, and I’ll be looking at the match between Maximilian Marterer and Adrian Andreev, also from Koblenz.

In this article:

Maximilian Marterer vs Adrian Andreev Preview
Maximilian Marterer vs Adrian Andreev Best Bet

Maximilian Marterer vs Adrian Andreev Preview

February 2nd, 15:00 (UK Time)

Enticing tilt here between the big lefty German, who is sure to have the crowd on his side and the Bulgarian who has made massive strides in the last 12 months and should threaten to reach the latter stages of Challenger Tour events throughout the 2023 season.

While I think both possess strong enough first serves to win cheap points when they can land them, I’m much more sold on the rest of Andreev’s game relative to Marterer’s. He moves around the court more efficiently, doesn’t play with as much spin and should take more time away with his groundstrokes as a result and he’s well-versed in playing a big server on these courts after his first-round encounter with another German in Daniel Masur.

That may have been a right-handed serve, but the timing should still help moving forward.

He’s had a bit better of a season, and hasn’t yet retired from a match as his counterpart in this one has.

I’ll back the Bulgarian to get this one done, especially at odds over 2.00.

Maximilian Marterer vs Adrian Andreev Best Bet

I’m not convinced about Marterer’s play just yet. He retired two matches ago and played an abysmal server who looked lethargic in Vitaliy Sachko in the opening round and still struggled to really put him away in his own service games.

Andreev can be a frustrating player to back in his own right, but with his serve, forehand and all-around talent, as well as his abilities on slower courts, I’m more than happy to back him in what I consider a really close matchup at underdog odds.