ATP Stuttgart - Benoit Paire vs. Philipp Petzschner (12:30 BST)

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by Crunch Sports Staff

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Philipp Petzschner (credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Philipp Petzschner takes on Benoit Paire this afternoon in the first round of the ATP Stuttgart (12:30 BST start).

Petzschner is much more at home playing on grass or fast indoor courts than he is on the slow, high bouncing clay courts of Europe and this month is often a tedious one for the German. He'll be hoping that the home support can see him pull off some victories this week and in Hamburg, but his form on the red dirt earlier this year does not bode particularly well.

He didn't even win a single set during the spring clay court swing, suffering a particularly ignominious first round qualifying defeat at the Madrid Masters. Thankfully for Petzschner, things picked up on the grass last month and he came through qualifying to reach the final in Den Bosch.

However, Paire will be sensing an opportunity here. The 6'5 right hander is at a career high of 47 in the rankings after reaching the semis in Den Bosch and the third round of Wimbledon.

And unlike Petzschner, he can actually play on clay, making the Belgrade final at the start of May.

Prediction: Paire in straight sets.

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