First-round action in Mallorca wraps up on Tuesday, when Stefanos Tsitsipas faces No. 5 seed and Hamburg champion Ignacio Buse. The second round is also getting underway, as top seed Luciano Darderi goes up against Yannick Hanfmann.
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. (5) Ignacio Buse
Tsitsipas has quietly won 16 matches on the main tour in 2026, but times are so rough for him right now that he is somewhat close to dropping outside of the top 100 (currently 88th in the world). Since the Miami Masters in March, the 27-year-old Greek has defeated only one opponent ranked better than No. 80. Tsitsipas has not yet played on grass this summer, so his last result was a was a second-round French Open exit at the hands of eventual semifinalist Matteo Arnaldi.
Up first for Tsitsipas at the Mallorca Championships on Tuesday is Buse, whom he has never faced. It has been a breakthrough season for the 22-year-old Peruvian; in fact, it was been so good that he will be seeded at Wimbledon. Buse’s best work has come on clay in the form of a semifinal showing in Rio de Janeiro and an ATP 500 title in Hamburg as a qualifier. Unfortunately for the world No. 34, he is a meager 1-2 lifetime on grass. Strictly due to the surface, it would be alarming if Tsitsipas — even in his current state — can’t find a way to win this one.
Pick: Tsitsipas in 3
(1) Luciano Darderi vs. Yannick Hanfmann
Darderi and Hanfmann will be going head-to-head for the sixth time in their careers when they clash in round two on Tuesday. All five of their previous encounters have gone Darderi’s way, including two within the past two months — 6-4, 6-4 at the Rome Masters and 7-6(7), 7-5 in Hamburg.
All five of their previous encounters have come on clay, which is no surprise given that both of these guys are borderline dirt specialists. A change in surface is probably advantageous for Hanfmann, as Darderi almost never loses to lower-ranked opponents on clay. On grass or a hard court, however, the 16th-ranked Argentine can be vulnerable. Darderi, for example, is an anemic 5-9 all time on grass; Hanfmann is a respectable 24-24. The 55th-ranked German already has a win under his belt this week, too, having defeated Daniel Aldofo Vallejo 7-6(2), 7-6(2) on Monday. Considering all of those factors, Hanfmann has a good chance to finally get over the hump against his nemesis.
Pick: Hanfmann in 3