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Fixture: (5) Maxime Cressy vs Roberto Carballes Baena
Tournament: Grand Prix Hassan II 2023
Date: Tuesday, April 4
Round: First Round (Round of 32)
Venue: Royal Tennis Club de Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco
Category: ATP 250
Surface: Outdoor clay
Prize money: €562,815
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel/UK - Amazon Prime Video
Maxime Cressy vs Roberto Carballes Baena preview
Fifth seed Maxime Cressy opens his campaign at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech against Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena on Tuesday.
World No. 37 Cressy fell to 7-8 on the season following an opening-round loss in Miami a week ago. The 25-year-old had also fallen at the first hurdle at Indian Wells, which concluded a disappointing Sunshine Double for the American.
Earlier, Cressy opened his 2023 campaign with two defeats in his first three matches before losing to Jannik Sinner in the Montpellier final. Since crossing the first-round hurdles at Rotterdam and Marseille, he has now failed to do so in three tournaments (Dubai, Indian Wells, Miami). Cressy is now making his Marrakech debut.
Meanwhile, the 84th-ranked Carballes Baena has won only four times in 11 matches this year. One of those wins came at his last stop in Miami, where he lost to Daniil Medvedev in the second round.
The Spaniard lost three of his four matches in 2023 before returning to winning ways at the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires, where he made the Round of 16. After falling in the first round at Rio de Janeiro, he made the second round in Santiago before stumbling in the opening round at Indian Wells.
Carballes Baena reached the semifinals at the Hassan Grand Prix II in 2014 and the last eight in 2022, going 6-3 at the tournament.
Maxime Cressy vs Roberto Carballes Baena head-to-head
The pair haven't met before, so their head-to-head record is 0-0.
Maxime Cressy vs Roberto Carballes Baena odds
(All odds as per BETMGM)
Maxime Cressy vs Roberto Carballes Baena prediction
Both Cressy and Carballes Baena look to dominate opponents from the backcourt, a tactic that can pay rich dividends on clay.
The American has made a marginally better start to the season than Carballes Baena. But the latter's superior pedigree on the red dirt gives him a distinct advantage.
Moreover, Cressy is on a three-match losing streak, so he's unlikely to return to winning ways on his least favored surface against a seasoned campaigner.
Prediction: Carballes Baena in straight sets
