The clay-court season continues this week with the ATP Tour’s Geneva Open. Damien Kayat previews Tallon Griekspoor’s clash against Christopher Eubanks in the Ro32 and Sebastian Barez’ Ro16 match against Roberto Carballés Baena.
2024 ATP Tour
ATP 250
Geneva Open
Tennis Club de Geneve
Selected Ro32 and 16 Matches – 21 May
Round of 32
Tallon Griekspoor 24/100 | Christopher Eubanks 29/10
27-year-old Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor has really enjoyed a solid 18 months on tour. The versatile, all-court player rose to prominence last season, reaching his first three ATP Tour finals (winning titles in Pune and Rosmalen).
He also finished runner-up in his first ATP 500 final in Washington. The pugnacious Griekspoor doesn’t have the massive weapons of a Sinner or Alcaraz. But he mixes his game up brilliantly, throwing in slices and coming to the net as often as possible.
He started this year in decent fashion, making his second consecutive Grand Slam third-round appearance at the Aussie Open. He reached the semi-finals in Rotterdam before respectable third-round losses at the ‘Sunshine Double’ (he actually pushed Sinner to three sets in Miami).
And he will probably feel reasonably pleased with his clay-court form. He pushed de Minaur to three sets in Monte-Carlo before upsetting Holger Rune in Madrid. He is fresh off a disappointing first-round loss to Passaro in Rome and will be looking for a solid week ahead of the year’s second Grand Slam.
This year has been somewhat humbling for American Christopher Eubanks. The former college star has largely toiled away on the tour since turning professional back in 2017. But the big-serving American enjoyed a real breakthrough campaign last season, winning his maiden ATP Tour title in Mallorca.
He also showed up in some big tournaments, reaching the quarter-finals in Miami before a sensational quarter-final run at the Wimbledon Championships. But this season has been nothing short of disastrous for the American.
He comes into this event with a 3-11 record for the season (and that’s including a few early Challenger defeats). He seems lost at present, easily frustrated into going for too much from the back of the court. He also has very little experience on clay (he has only won one tour-level match on this surface).
He knows that his beloved grass-court season is fast approaching and maybe that could spur him on to an improved showing this week.
Verdict: Eubanks to win in three 13/2
Griekspoor won their only previous meeting in an extremely tight encounter at last year’s Paris Masters. I’m taking a bit of a risk here. Griekspoor is far better suited to these surfaces and is in much better form.
But Eubanks has the type of power-based game that can just suddenly click into action (as it did last season). He is too talented to be this bad for so long. He likes to come to the net as well and that could prove disruptive to the Dutchman.
Round of 16
Sebastian Baez 49/100 | Roberto Carballes Baena 31/20
This should prove to be a war of attrition between two clay-court specialists. 23-year-old Argentine Sebastian Baez has risen into the top 20 in the world rankings courtesy of some consistent tennis over the last 18 months.
He actually first caught my attention on the Challenger Tour, reaching an incredible nine Challenger clay-court finals back in 2021. And he has been very consistent since joining the tour proper, winning three titles last season (including a hardcourt title at Winston-Salem).
He has progressed even further this year, enjoying an incredible ‘Golden Swing that propelled him into the top 20 in the world. He won his maiden ATP 500 event in Rio before claiming another title in Chile. He never enjoyed a strong start to the European clay-court season but he looked much more impressive in Rome, beating Rune and pushing Hurkacz to three sets.
He just eased past Nagel in straight sets and he could be a real threat this week.
Roberto Carballés Baena is a throwback to the days of pure Spanish clay-court specialists. Of his 38 Challenger and Futures finals, a staggering 36 of them have come on clay!
He won his second career title on the Marrakech clay last season and he once again thrived there this year, finishing runner-up to a resurgent Mattei Berrettini. He will look to grind out points, looking for ways to open up the court for his forehand.
He just enjoyed a pretty solid victory over the enigmatic Altmaier and he will need to dig in against the tenacious Sebastian Baez.
Verdict: Baez to win in straight sets at 12/10
Baez won their only previous meeting, breezing past the Spaniard during last year’s Kitzbuhel event. And I see little reason to deviate from that result. Baez has been in top form this season while Carballes Baena is largely relevant due to one event in Marrakech.
Baez reminds me of a slightly more aggressive Schwartzmann, tracking down everything and relishing the longer exchanges. He should have too much for the Spainard.
