Ruud Looks To Get Back On Track On The Estoril Clay; Hurkacz, Schwartzman, Shelton, Thiem n Field

With an earlier date than last year when it was held after Monte Carlo, Estoril officially opens the European red clay season, and the field features two Top 10 talents: Casper Ruud and Hubert Hurkacz.

After a miserable 5-6 start to 2023, Ruud will hope to get back on track on his favorite surface, especially win a ton of points coming off including the French Open final.

The Norwegian gets a first round by before the winner of Giulio Zeppieri-Joao Sousa.

Top seeds are: 1 Casper Ruud, 2 Hubert Hurkacz, 3 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, 4 Roberto Bautista Agut, 5 Sebastian Baez, 6 Miomir Kecmanovic, 7 Diego Schwartzman, 8 Ben Shelton.

No. 1 Ruud is projected to meet 5 Baez in the quarters, No. 4 Bautista Agut – 8 Shelton, No. 7 Schwartzman – 3 Davidovich Fokina, and 6 seed Kecmanovic – 2 Hurkacz in the bottom quarter.

The semifinals could see Casper Ruud-Roberto Bautista Agut and Hubert Hurkacz-Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Defending champion Sebastian Baez will face Radu Albot in the opening round.

Among the notable first round matches: Giulio Zeppieri-Joao Sousa, Radu Albot-Sebastian Baez and Constant Lestienne-Ben Shelton. The youngster Shelton opted to not play back home in Texas and make the trip for the European clay. Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem takes on Austrian qualifier Sebastian Ofner.

Former champions: Sousa, Baez, Ramos Vinolas.

Last year, Sebastian Baez defeated (5) Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 6-2. Tiafoe is playing in Houston this week.

LAST 10 ESTORIL CHAMPIONS/FINALS
2022 Sebastian Baez d Frances Tiafoe 6-3 6-2
2021 Albert Ramos Vinolas d Cameron Norrie 4-6 6-3 7-6(3)
2019 Stefanos Tsitsipas d Pablo Cuevas 6-3 7-6(4)
2018 Joao Sousa d Frances Tiafoe 6-4 6-4
2017 Pablo Carreno Busta d Gilles Muller 6-2 7-6(5)
2016 Nicolas Almagro d Pablo Carreno Busta 6-7(6) 7-6(5) 6-3
2015 Richard Gasquet d Nick Kyrgios 6-3 6-2
2014 Carlos Berlocq d Tomas Berdych 0-6 7-5 6-1
2013 Stan Wawrinka d David Ferrer 6-1 6-4
2012 Juan Martin del Potro d Richard Gasquet 6-4 6-2