Ranked 58th in the world, Kohlschreiber was money in the first round in Hamburg, as he destroyed Andrey Rublev in two sets, 6-3, 6-1. As the score suggests, Kohlschreiber toyed with Rublev, who had no answer to his German opponent. Kohlschreiber had 63 percent of his first serves in and won 78 percent of his first serve points. He also muscled out six aces and won 56 percent of his beak points (5-for-9).
It’s not about to be as easy for Kohlschreiber, though, as he’ll face next a higher ranked opponent in world no. 39, Simon.
That being said, Kohlschreiber has thrice before against Simon, including his 7-5 6-3 win over the French in the second round of the 2014 edition of this tournament.
Simon said goodbye to Maximiliam Marterer, as he recorded a 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 win in the first round against the German. Another German awaits him in the second round in the form of Kohlschreiber, whom he has defeated several times before.
While Simon was defeated last year in Hamburg by Kohlschreiber, he nonetheless the upper hand in their career head-to-head matchups with a record of 5-3. All his wins in the series, however, were on hard-surfaced course. Simon won the latest match-up between the two, notching a 7-5 4-6 6-0 triumph over Kohlschreiber in Tokyo last year.
Simon is 128-94 on clay court matches thus far in his career.
Writer’s Prediction
Simon takes down Kohlschreiber to gain a ticket to the next round.
