Finally!

After many first-round losses in main tour events, the Frenchman Valentin Royer is back on the Challenger circuit, where he had success last year, which was necessary for him to find his way back to winning. Valentin, who’s used to winning and building confidence through his victories, finds it difficult to face top-50 players in the first round of big tournaments. I’m calling this analysis “finally” because Valentin has once again put together several consecutive wins, notably last week in Portugal where he reached the final of the Oeiras Challenger. Even though he lost that final decisively, it’s important to note that he won four matches, including the first three in three sets, which is a promising sign.

Today he’s facing a Chilean player, an expert in clay-court tennis at altitude, tactical and hard to handle. It’s going to be very tough for Valentin. All the more so because the fitness concerns we sometimes have about the Chilean are not there this year. And above all, despite his early losses recently, I really like the Chilean’s current level.

Valentin has the physical capacity to keep going, but it would be difficult for him to persist if the match drags on, because his style is to stretch matches and win in three sets. I won’t elaborate much more on this analysis because I’m not very confident. The difference in clay-court level and in game intelligence between the two players is too stark here.