The total opposite, you couldn't get more different

Clash of extremes and big advantage for Rinder, right?

On a fast court it’s pretty logical to make Rinderknech the favorite, yes. For several months now he’s been showing real consistency and he’s simply raised his average level of play, which allows him to be solid and strong enough in most matches. Not a bad loss this season (even against Stan in the United Cup it’s not dramatic, it ends 7–6 in the third), you have to be damn good to come and beat Arthur. Winning mentality and offensive game just the way we like it, he’s also learned to be a bit more tenacious from the baseline, he’s getting stronger in every area. His record at Indian Wells isn’t good; already we can’t say the conditions are amazing for him and he hasn’t faced easy opponents either. This year he’s seeded and will finally have the chance to get his first win there. He’s playing his best tennis and knows the US well, a part of the world where we know he’s comfortable. I don’t have any negative points to raise, the little stone in his shoe is JM Cerundolo.

The Argentinian is a nightmare to play and he’s just taken out VDZ—or rather VDZ knocked himself out. The Dutchman’s match was dreadful, more than 60 unforced errors and that bad-day body language; we knew he was capable of that kind of poor performance and he did it! Credit to JM for his tenacity once again, he’s being rewarded for the work he’s put in to improve his game and his fitness. I still think he’s capable of doing a few decent things on hard this season, but let’s not get carried away either. I see Rinderknech as such a more reliable player than VDZ, whether in terms of serve or mentality: the Frenchman has all the tools to impose his game and hurt JM in short rallies. Yes, there’s a risk of getting dragged into a false rhythm, but that remains minor in my opinion!