Adelaide International 2 2023: Maxime Cressy vs Benjamin Bonzi Tennis Prediction

TennisSection previews the 2023 Adelaide International 2 as Maxime Cressy takes on Benjamin Bonzi in the first round on Tuesday, January 10, 2023.

An intriguing battle is in store in the first round of the Adelaide International 2 when Maxime Cressy takes on Pune finalist Benjamin Bonzi. Will the big-serving American bludgeon his way into the second round? or will the Frenchman overcome his disappointment of losing his first ATP final?

Maxime Cressy was defending 150 points from last year’s runner-up showing at the Melbourne Summer Set 1. It was undoubtedly one of the best runs of his career at an ATP tournament, coming from qualifying and beating the likes of Reilly Opelka and Grigor Dimitrov before losing to Rafael Nadal in two close sets. Cressy did get past the final hurdle in Newport where he won his first ATP title. But he won’t be seeded at this year’s Australian Open, coming so close to doing so. He is in a race to pick up his first win before Melbourne at the Adelaide International 2, but faces a tricky opener against Benjamin Bonzi.

Benjamin Bonzi, meanwhile, will be licking his wounds after losing a close final in Pune last weekend. The Frenchman had taken the first set in a battle between two first-time finalists against Tallon Griekspoor. But it was the Dutchman who weathered the storm and came roaring back to win in three. At 26, Bonzi will surely get another bite of the cherry. He is too good a player not to. A few seasons ago, he was one of the best-performing players on the Challenger Tour and has slowly but steadily transitioned into a full-fledged Tour-level campaigner.

Maxime Cressy and Benjamin Bonzi have not played each other on the ATP Tour. Tuesday’s match at the Adelaide International 2 will be their first official meeting. By dint of ranking Cressy comes into the match at the oddsmakers’ favorite. But the Frenchman is in better form. If Bonzi can serve as well as he did in Pune, he is going to ask a lot of questions about Cressy’s own delivery by putting pressure back on him.