Analysis for Seppi-Schwank (ATP Madrid)

Head-to-head record 1:0

Argentine qualifier Eduardo Schwank will play Italian Andreas Seppi in the first round. Schwank is a right-hander with a double-handed backhand who is currently coached by Javier Nalbandian, the brother of David Nalbandian. Schwank is a clay court specialist who had a record of 39-4 winning 5 tournaments in his final year on the junior circuit in 2004, with his biggest title winning the Banana Bowl defeating Pablo Andujar in the final. Schwank finished 2nd in the rankings behind Gael Monfils. Last April, Schwank won three consecutive challenger events, the first in Cremona, Italy, the second in Rome, Italy and the third in Bordeaux, France. At the 2008 Roland Garros tournament Schwank was the number 1 seed in the qualifying rounds. He defeated Bjorn Rehnquist, Uladzimir Ignatik and Ilia Bozoljac in the first, second and third qualifying rounds respectively to qualify for the main draw of the tournament. In the first round, Schwank defeated Carlos Moyà. He was also victorious in his next match, but was defeated in the third by Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu in four sets. This stellar clay court run catapulted him into the top 60 in the World. This year, he still remains far behind the expectations but he has the conditions to suit here in Madrid and we think his price is too high today. He will play Andreas Seppi who is right-handed and plays with a two hand backhand. He considers clay and hardcourts his favourite surface. His YTD results are just average and we don’t think he deserves to be such a big favourite here.