ATP Grand Prix Hassan II & WTA Lugano Open: Thursday betting tips & TV details

TV (Lugano): BT Sport ESPN, 10am Thursday

Philipp Kohlschreiber had to work hard to see off Spanish teenager Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the opening round of the ATP Grand Prix Hassan II and the German veteran might struggle to repel another Iberian in the shape of Pablo Andujar.

Andujar has struggled with injuries in the past, missing almost all of the 2017 campaign, but he put in a superb performance to land this title last season and is unlikely to surrender his crown without a fight.

The 33-year-old, who was also champion in Morocco in 2011 and 2012, warmed up for his defence by winning Challenger Tour titles in Marbella and Alicante over the last fortnight before beating Federico Delbonis 2-0 in his Tuesday opener.

Kohlschreiber also won in straight sets against Davidovich Fokina but the young Spaniard blew a 3-0 lead in the first set and then sank from 5-1 up in the second – the contest could quite easily have gone the other way.

In the WTA Lugano Open, 20-year-old Viktoria Kuzmova could get the better of Polish 17-year-old Iga Swiatek in a tussle of two promising young players.

Both players have the ability to enjoy excellent WTA careers but Kuzmova, who reached the semi-finals of the Auckland Classic in January and the quarters in Dubai a month later, looks slightly further along in her development and it’s a surprise to see her priced up as the outsider in Switzerland.

The Slovakian has already picked up valuable ITF clay-court titles in Trnava and Budapest and her greater experience could tell.

Recommendations
P Andujar (ATP Grand Prix Hassan II)
1pt 11-10 Betway, Hills, RedZone
V Kuzmova (WTA Lugano Open)
1pt 6-5 general

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