Everything changes, but the goal remains the same?

Darderi is leading 5–0 against Hanfmann and hasn’t lost a single set.

There are only clay-court wins for Darderi and a few tie-breaks to chew on. I don’t think the match-up is disastrous for Hanfmann either, but he just can’t get it done, and I see Darderi as someone who is just a bit better than him in every area. The in-form Italian can do a lot of damage with his serve and forehand, but he also knows how to hang in rallies the right way, which I think causes big problems for Hanfmann on clay. Now, we can see that quite a few things are going to be different compared to their last meeting, especially the surface. We’re switching to a well-bouncing, fast grass court, which I think can really help Hanfmann find new solutions. But there’s also a difference in momentum this time, since Darderi hasn’t played since Roland-Garros and is coming back from a minor tonsil surgery. The Italian is going to have to quickly get his rhythm back.

Honestly, it’s not the best kind of preparation for him, and he had even mentioned skipping this tournament and only coming back for Wimbledon. It’s not really a part of the season he likes or was targeting this year. We know his mentality: he’s really someone who hates losing. I don’t think he’ll accept not playing well and just going through the motions in the match without a fight. But I still feel like it’s a bit early for him to already be good on this surface, especially against an in-form and dangerous opponent. For several reasons, I find it hard to see Darderi winning here.