Public enemy number one.

It’s sad, but Vallejo has just made quite a name for himself after Roland Garros and his comments that were judged sexist, for which he got hit with a hefty fine. It’s a shame, because I think he’s actually a really nice guy and I always enjoy watching him play and improve. I mostly put it down to a lack of clarity right after his match against Kouame and the disappointment. But he’s going to have to redeem himself and be spotless in the coming weeks and months.

No match since Roland Garros, I don’t know if it was for that reason, but I don’t think so. In my opinion, he really needed to take a proper big break, given the exceptional run he’s been on since the start of the season. We shouldn’t forget that he’s a player who’s been grinding clay-court Challengers since January 1st and already has more than thirty wins this season. It was the perfect time to switch off. He’s ready to get back to work, and what better way to restart than in Mallorca, a tournament played in stifling heat, a context in which he has a clear advantage over his opponents. He’s going to discover the surface, and as I keep saying in my other analyses, Mallorca is less punishing for players with his profile. Movement is a bit less demanding, and he’ll still be able to make his heavy, loopy, topspin shots work. The bounce behaves well here. Sure, it’s fast, and we’re a long way from clay, but he shouldn’t be underestimated either, even if it’s to a lesser extent.

Conditions that I also find super interesting for Hanfmann, this mix of very fast grass with a high bounce, for me it’s excellent for his style of play. He’ll be able to kick on serve, step in and crush the ball if it sits up too much, and on top of that the court is quick. He’s also coming in with good confidence. I found him quite laboured in Stuttgart, but with hindsight, he actually had a really strong opponent in front of him, and he backed it up in Halle at home with a nice win. Even his match against Zverev was very solid and he’s in good shape. Will the fact of going to play somewhere other than Germany make him drop off a bit? Personally, I don’t think so. We’re in Mallorca, it’s a tournament that’s really appreciated by the players! It’s also a tournament where he made the semifinals in 2023. If he gains confidence this week, he could really pull off something big.