If only we could bet on a heatwave..

We really have two players to keep an eye on as soon as it starts getting hot. And damn, it’s going to be hot tomorrow in Mallorca. They’re calling for over 36 degrees. When you know these two champions, it’s a must-watch.

I don’t know if Kecmanovic picked up some nasty bug, but his recent matches are worrying from a physical standpoint. First, we saw him at Roland-Garros against Marozsan get through only because Marozsan overheated. But I can assure you Kecmanovic wasn’t fresh at all and was close to cracking as well. Then he was sick against Borges at Roland, and he came back last week in Halle against that same Marozsan, in a match that once again turned into a total mess, with Kecmanovic throwing up on court. I don’t know if he’s lacking training at the moment, or if his fitness is just not up to par, but I’m really starting to worry, especially before playing a match in 36 degrees. His game on grass is less impressive, it doesn’t bode well for him this week, don’t you think?

Speaking of physical condition and not being able to handle the heat, I think the reigning champion is Medjedovic. He hates the heat, and “hate” might not even be strong enough. It’s a systematic problem for him as soon as it gets too hot. I think he’s aware of it, he starts to tense up and quickly switches into energy-saving mode, even when there might be no need. He’s stuck in a spiral of issues on that front and he’s going to have to deal with it again tomorrow. Is Medjedovic good on grass? On a classic grass court, a bit like in Eastbourne for example, he wouldn’t be as big a threat as on a court like Mallorca. The speed of the courts, the fact that the bounce is slightly higher and the surface isn’t slippery, can allow Medjedovic to play his more typical game. What I saw at Queen’s last week reassured me about his level. He’s a player whose potential we know; you just have to look at his first two sets against Ugo Humbert where he probably played at a top-10 level before collapsing in the key moments. That’s his second major weakness.

I really like the match-up for Medjedovic, who should be comfortable on serve and will be able to put a lot of pressure on return, with his power but also his ability to withstand rallies. I think he has everything he needs to beat Kecmanovic, especially on this surface. What really bothers me is that it’s going to be so hot tomorrow, because without that, I would have bet big on Medjedovic.