Vienna 2023 Day 3: Men's singles predictions ft. Gael Monfils vs Daniel Altmaier | Erste Bank Open

The third day of main draw acton at the 2023 Erste Bank Open in Vienna on Wednesday will feature six first-round matches. Four seeds and a qualifier will be in action.

On Tuesday, the likes of Andrey Rublev, Frances Tiafoe and Stefanos Tsitsipas emerged victorious, beating Alexei Popyrin, Dan Evans and Dominic Thiem respectively.

So, without further ado, here's a look at how the following four first-round matches in Vienna on Wednesday could pan out:

#1 Gael Monfils vs Daniel Altmaier

Gael Monfils

Veteran Frenchman Gael Monfils takes on Germany's Daniel Altmaier in an all unseeded first-round clash at the Erste Open in Vienna.

World No. 89 Monfils has won 14 of his 24 matches in 2023 and is coming off a title run in Stockholm last week. Meanwhile, the 47th-ranked Altmaier is 13-20 on the season.

The two players haven't locked horns before, but expect the more experienced Monfils to prevail.

Pick: Monfils in three sets

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#2 Aslan Karatsev vs Borna Gojo

Aslan Karatsev

Aslan Karatsev gets his campaign at the Erste Bank Open up and running against Croatian wildcard Borna Gojo.

The 37th-ranked Karatsev has won 22 of his 40 matches in 2023 and is coming off a run to the Tokyo final. Meanwhile, World No. 77 Gojo is 10-8 on the season and is coming off an opening-round loss at Stockholm.

This is another first-time meeting, but the slightly more-experienced Karatsev should take the win.

Pick Karatsev in three sets

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#3 Karen Khachanov vs Jiri Lehecha

Karen Khachanov

Eighth seed Karen Khachanov takes on Czech left-hander Jiri Lehecka as a place in the Erste Bank Open in Vienna beckons.

World No.16 Khachanov is 28-15 on the season and is coming off an opening-round defeat at Tokyo. Meanwhile, rhe 31st-ranked Lehecka has won 33 of his 56 matches in 2023.

Khachanov won his lone meeting with Lehecka in the third round at Miami this year and should repeat the feat.

Pick: Khachanov in straight sets

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#4 Ben Shelton vs Jannik Sinner (Vienna second seed)

Ben Shelton

The unseeded Ben Shelton locks horns with second seed Jannik Sinner in the opening round of the Erste Bank Open in Vienna.

World No. 15 Shelton - fresh off his maiden singles title in Tokyo - is 26-22 on the season. Meanwhile, the fourth-ranked Sinner is 51-14 on the season and made the Shanghai fourth round at his last stop.

Shelton took the pair's lone meeting in the Shanghai fourth round this year and should win again.

Pick: Shelton in three sets