Houston Open: Altmaier vs Purcell Tennis Prediction, Odds & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Houston Open first-round match featuring Daniel Altmaier vs Max Purcell on Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

Altmaier vs Purcell Match Preview

Daniel Altmaier will look to return to winning ways on the clay of the Houston Open. But in-form Max Purcell will look to cause an upset. Who will prevail?

Daniel Altmaier has lost his last four main draw matches on the ATP Tour, a run that dates back to the Dallas Open at the start of February. Altmaier hasn’t played a clay-court match this year just yet, not even at the Challenger Tour where he won three titles on the dirt in 2022. He is expected to make his debut at the Houston Open looking to pick up a rare win against Australia’s Max Purcell.

Max Purcell, meanwhile, enters this match with a 28-5 record for the season. The Aussie has been on an absolute tear on the ATP Challenger Tour this season. He completed a three-peat on Indian soil in February, taking titles in Chennai, Bengaluru, and Pune. Purcell reached another final this past week on the indoor hard courts in Lille. He was on the first flight to the States soon after to play his first match at the 2023 Houston Open.

Altmaier vs Purcell Prediction and Pick

Daniel Altmaier and Max Purcell have not played each on the ATP Tour, with this first-round match at the Houston Open being their first collision. Altmaier is a clay-court specialist and this is as good a chance he’ll get to end his four-match winless drought in ATP main draws. Purcell has all the momentum and confidence in the world after cleaning house on the Challenger Tour, but surface change and the jetlag factor will likely mean he’ll fall short here.