The next failure for Otte?
Since October 2021, former US Open winner Marin Cilic has been waiting for his next singles title on the ATP Tour. By a hair’s breadth, it would have been that time again on Sunday. However, the 34-year-old lost 2-0 to Novak Djokovic in the final of the Tel Aviv Open. Mrnja now wants to make another attempt in Kazakhstan, where he will face Oscar Otte in the first round of the 2022 Astana Open.
The German recently shook off a long winless streak in Sofia, but then failed to reach the last 16 against Kamil Majchrzak (ATP 119) after a 2-0 opening win. The Cologne player continues to be in a bad way, which is why the odds are clearly against the German in the run-up to the match between Marin Cilic and Oscar Otte
It is quite possible that the serve will make the difference on the fast indoor hard courts in Kazakhstan. And here Marin Cilic, as a 1.98-metre tall giant of the serve, has a clear advantage, especially since the five-centimetre shorter German has had difficulties getting his own service through again and again recently.
Accordingly, there is no alternative to betting on an unchallenged victory for Marin Cilic against Oscar Otte. We are betting on the result and on a 2:0 win for Mrnja.
Marin Cilic – Statistics & current form
Current world ranking: 14
Position in the seedings: 9
The 34-year-old Croatian Marin Cilic has been on the ATP Tour since 2005 and has had several major successes since then. Among other things, the Bosnian-born player won the US Open in 2014.
Although Mrnja missed out on another Grand Slam title in his other two Grand Slam finals both in 2017 at the Wimbledon Championships and 2018 at the Australian Open. However, the world number 14 has a total of 20 tournament wins on the ATP Tour.
Win percentage of just 27.1% against Top 10 players
Over the weekend, however, the number 21 was to continue to be a long time coming. Marin Cilic fought his way through to the final of the Tel Aviv Open 2022 with victories over Dominic Thiem, among others. There, however, the 34-year-old lost to Novak Djokovic 0:2 (3:6 and 4:6).
In general, the reason why the Croatian did not win significantly more titles in his career can be seen in the mixed results against the top stars of the ATP Tour. Of 133 matches Mrnja played against players from the current Top 10, he won only 36 games (27.1%).
Won 30 of 47 singles matches in 2022
When the 34-year-old faces less renowned opponents, however, it is not unusual for the giant’s merciless serve alone to decide matches. Apart from grass, this is especially true for the fast indoor hard court, which will also be played at the Astana Open 2022.
Consequently, the Croat, who won 30 of his 47 singles matches in 2022, is the clear favourite for the opening match in Kazakhstan.
Oscar Otte – Statistics & current form
Current ranking in the world rankings: 55
Position in the seedings: unseeded
The 29-year-old German Oscar Otte has never won a tournament on the ATP Tour before and has only succeeded on the Challenger Tour and in the ITF. Nevertheless, the native of Cologne has already managed several strong performances.
A little over a year ago, Oscar Otte reached the round of 16 at the US Open 2021, before he also reached the third round of a Grand Slam tournament this year at Wimbledon. However, due to a subsequent knee operation, the second half of the year went very badly.
Won only 18 of 38 singles in 2022
For four months after reaching the third round of Wimbledon, the German went winless, plummeting to 55th in the rankings. In the process, he failed to reach the first round of every tournament in which he took part and did not contribute a single point even during the German team’s successful Davis Cup run to the finals.
Instead, the Cologne native lost all three singles matches and had to thank his teammates, who did not surrender a single point, so that all three German group matches were won 2-1. All in all, Oscar Otte has already lost 20 of his 38 singles matches in 2022.
In Sofia for the first time since Wimbledon a singles win
Although the world No. 55 managed to briefly halt his free fall last week in Sofia, ending his long unbeaten streak with a 2-0 win over Dragos Nicolae Madaras (ATP 314). However, his subsequent appearance in the round of 16 against Kamil Majchrzak (ATP 119) from Poland showed that he is far from being back to his old self, when the Cologne native squandered a 1-0 set lead.
Marin Cilic’s chances of making a good run in the strong field at the Astana Open 2022 against Oscar Otte are correspondingly poor. Instead, everything points to the German’s next first-round exit.
Marin Cilic – Oscar Otte Direct comparison / H2H record
Head to head: 0:0
Never before has there been a direct duel between the two athletes. Accordingly, there is no “head to head” data available that could influence the forecast in any way in the case of Marin Cilic vs. Oscar Otte
Marin Cilic – Oscar Otte Tip
Marin Cilic goes into the opening match of the Astana Open 2022 as the clear favourite. The Croatian only reached the final at the Tel Aviv Open last week, where he was only stopped by Novak Djokovic. Once again, his weak record against top players prevented him from winning another title. All in all, Mrnya’s record for the year reads well with 30 wins against 17 losses.
While Marin Cilic, as a giant of serve, should have a comparatively easy time getting his service through on the fast indoor hard court, the German’s own serve has been his problem zone lately. There is therefore a lot to be said for a two-set victory for Mrnja.
