So far in the 2024 ATP Metz Open, there has been an exciting mix between the established old guard and the new wave of talent coming through. Chief among them have been American Alex Michelsen and France's Benjamin Bonzi as they fight their way through tight matches to this much-anticipated semifinal. The number 44 ranked Michelsen has been resilient and at times brilliant to take a hard-fought win over Yunchaokete Bu. Meanwhile, the fan favourite Bonzi, seeded 124th, continued his commanding form despatching Quentin Halys in straight sets to extend his winning streak to ten consecutive sets. High-intensity rallies and tactical depth on the fast indoor surface of Metz will see one player walk away victorious from their meeting, which decides who goes into the final.
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This really is a contrasting match-up in terms of youth versus experience. One of the new faces of American tennis would be the 20-year-old Alex Michelsen, who starts this year with good results that catapult him up into the rankings. His game combines a strong serve with baseline aggression; something that has definitely worked quite well for him in indoor conditions. Although Bonzi performs fantastically during indoor tournaments within his home country, on the experience side of things, he has great consistency and tactical changeability that have brought him to the semifinal with very little resistance.
With Metz's fast indoor court favoring the aggressive player, both players' strengths are going to shine. But it will be Bonzi's seasoned shot placement pitted against Michelsen's raw power and youthful energy, making this clash potentially one that could be very closely contested.
Tactical Approach
Alex Michelsen: Given the current form of Michelsen, one feels he will try to take control of the early points with a big first serve and move Bonzi around the back of the baseline. One of the key pieces in his game will be the heavy forehand to tease out the short ball from Bonzi and try to gain a foothold early within the rallies. Michelsen needs to ensure he can target the backhand of Bonzi for as much as possible, pushing him on the back foot where Michelsen can then take over. Quick of feet, Michelsen will try to take control of the center of the court-which is what he did very effectively on Bonzi's second serves, which he'd step in on and take advantage of.
Benjamin Bonzi: For Bonzi, consistency is going to be his friend, with tactical patience. A consistent backhand and the ability to extend the rallies can have Bonzi get Michelsen involved in longer points, working on the mental stamina of the younger player. The experience that Bonzi gains indoors allows him to use the speed to his advantage going forward for deep and angled returns that push Michelsen wide and open up the court. The important fact here, though, is that Bonzi can defend and counter strong, as he hopes to break Michelsen's aggressive momentum and get points off his unforced errors.
Expert Betting Tips
For now, however, in terms of current form and familiarity with the indoor conditions, the slight favorite should be Bonzi. In addition, five successive victories, with ten sets running, already evoke the rhythm and confidence on the surface. A player as strong as Michelsen doubtless is cannot hope to keep up with Bonzi's tactical maturity and consistency.
While Bonzi is favored, the aggressive play of Michelsen could see him net a set-most likely if he has success with his first-serve percentage, he will be winning early in points. However, Bonzi's experience may ultimately see him outlasting Michelsen in the longer rallies.
Both players have shown the ability to contest tight matches with their strong service games, especially. Given Michelsen's potential to push Bonzi, and the expected tightness in these sets, over 22.5 games seems likely.
- Benjamin Bonzi Wins @ 1.85 Odds
- Benjamin Bonzi Wins @ 1.81 Odds
- Benjamin Bonzi Wins 2-0 @ 3.25 Odds
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