2023 ATP Kitzbuhel Open Predictions & Djere vs O'Connell Picks 08/01

• ⭐ Novak to win 2-0 (+320) at BetMGM

Apart from Dominic Thiem, Dennis Novak is the sole Austrian participant in the singles draw. Although Novak mainly competes at the Challenger-level, he has achieved some notable victories in this tournament, buoyed by the support of his local crowd. 

Contrastingly, Thiago Seyboth Wild, who created ripples with his surprising win over Medvedev in the French Open, has struggled to maintain that performance. His grass court season was less than satisfactory, as he didn't qualify for Wimbledon, and his clay court performance has also been underwhelming since then. 

With his extensive ATP-tour experience and the backing of a home crowd, Novak seems to have a slight edge.

Best Betting Pick: Novak to win 2-0 (+320) at BetMGM

• ⭐ Zhang to win 2-1 (+320) at FanDuel

The duo has previously faced off, with the match culminating in an unfortunate early retirement for Dusan Lajovic. 

Given Zhang Zhizhen's impressive ascension into the top 50 recently, Lajovic enters this contest as the clear underdog. Zhang showcased exceptional tennis in Hamburg last week, advancing to the semifinals and fully utilizing his skill set. 

He'll certainly be looking to exploit Lajovic's less reliable backhand with his powerful forehand and to exert overall dominance on the court. Although Lajovic has had some substantial successes on clay this year, including his remarkable victories over Novak Djokovic and Andrey Rublev in Serbia, his form has seen a downturn since then. It's reasonable to anticipate Zhang clinching a victory in this matchup.

Best Betting Pick: Zhang to win 2-1 (+320) at FanDuel

• ⭐ Djere to win 2-1 (+260) at BetMGM

Laslo Djere showcased a commendable performance in Hamburg, making it to his fifth tour-level final. Despite a resounding defeat by Alexander Zverev in the finals, it was refreshing to see a player of Djere's undeniable physical prowess returning to top form. 

Although it might be challenging for Djere to sustain his excellent form into this week, the first-round matchup seems favorable for him. Christopher O’Connell made a somewhat surprising choice to compete on clay courts this summer, which led to a quick loss to Zsombor Piros in Umag, a player ranked significantly beyond the Top 100. 

O’Connell's powerful serve and groundstroke strengths will likely be offset by Djere's defensive tactics. Furthermore, Djere's extensive experience on clay courts significantly outweighs O’Connell's optimal performances on faster hard courts.

Best Betting Pick: Djere to win 2-1 (+260) at BetMGM

• ⭐ Under 22.5 total games (-112) at FanDuel

Huesler is currently experiencing a four-match losing streak that started in Eastbourne, with his most disheartening loss recently occurring before his own fans. 

The Swiss player will soon need to defend considerable ranking points in Winston-Salem and Sofia, where he previously claimed his first ATP title. Altmaier is evidently in better form; the clay court has facilitated some impressive Top 10 victories for the German player. 

His latest triumph over Andrey Rublev in Hamburg, a resounding 6-2, 6-2 victory, fully displayed his capabilities. The past record suggests that Altmaier is well-equipped for this kind of matchup, and he seems likely to advance to the second round.

Best Betting Pick: Under 22.5 total games (-112) at FanDuel