On the third day of the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston, the second round will commence.
Despite being the fifth seed, Christopher Eubanks suffered an early defeat in the first round of the tournament at the hands of Rinky Hijikata. However, other first-round matches saw victories for Aleksandar Kovacevic, Max Purcell, and Michael Mmoh.
On Wednesday, top seed Ben Shelton will make his debut in Houston, taking to the court for the first time. He has already achieved a victory at this venue, having teamed up with Andres Andrade to defeat the third-seeded pair of Julian Cash and Robert Galloway in the first round of doubles.
On Day 3 of the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships, there are predictions for all the singles matches that are scheduled to take place.
#1 – Ben Shelton and Zizou Bergs Face Off in Intense Match
Shelton’s season has seen him achieve an impressive 11-7 record. He has reached the semifinals in both Auckland and Dallas, a quarterfinal in Acapulco, and made it to the fourth round in Indian Wells.
Last year, Shelton’s debut on clay did not yield favorable results. Out of the seven tournaments he entered, he only secured a couple of victories. However, his top seeding in Houston earned him a first-round bye.
Despite his lackluster performance this season, Bergs began his Houston run with a victory over Patrick Kypson, winning 7-6 (5), 6-3. This was only his third win of the year and his fourth career win on clay.
Despite a disappointing performance on clay last year, Shelton is determined to showcase his skills on the red dirt this season. With dedicated training, he is confident in his ability to surpass Bergs on this surface.
Expected victor: Ben Shelton
#2 – Francisco Cerundolo and Luciano Darderi Face Off in Tennis Match
Despite playing on his preferred surface, clay, Cerundolo has faced numerous challenges this year. His season record stands at 7-9, with four of his wins being achieved on the red dirt.
Cerundolo has only managed to win back-to-back matches at the Rio Open, while his results at other tournaments have not been as successful. In contrast, Darderi has had a noteworthy year, achieving impressive results. He claimed his first career title at the Cordoba Open and also reached the quarterfinals at the Chile Open.
Despite losing the first set, Darderi managed to defeat Denis Kudla 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2 in the opening round of the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships. With all of his victories this season occurring on clay, the Italian has demonstrated a strong proficiency on the surface. Given his track record, it would not be unexpected for him to overcome the higher-ranked Cerundolo in their upcoming match.
Anticipated champion : Luciano Darderi
#3 – Brandon Nakashima vs Rinky Hijikata: A Battle of Rising Stars
Nakashima faced off against Duje Adjukovic in the first round, emerging victorious with a score of 6-1, 6-4. This marked his second win of the year. Similarly, Hijikata’s first match was against the fifth seed Christopher Eubanks, which he narrowly won with scores of 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2). This marked Hijikata’s first ATP victory on clay in singles.
Despite Nakashima’s struggles on the ATP Tour this year, he has found more success on the Challenger circuit. On the other hand, Hijikata has performed better on the main tour, but his limited experience playing on clay may hinder his performance.
Despite his 7-7 career record on the surface, Nakashima may not seem like a dominant player. Nevertheless, his previous experience on red clay, in comparison to his opponent, could ultimately give him an advantage in the match.
Anticipated champion: Brandon Nakashima
#4 – Marcos Giron vs. J.J. Wolf: A Battle of Young American Tennis Players
In Houston, Giron kicked off his run with a 6-2, 7-5 victory against former top 10 player Denis Shapovalov. Wolf also advanced to the second round after defeating Alexander Ritschard 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. This win marked his first of the year and ended his seven-match losing streak that dated back to the previous season.
This will mark the second time the two have met in their careers. Giron emerged victorious in their previous match at the ASB Classic last year, winning in straight sets. Despite a slow start to the season, the 30-year-old has recently reached the final in Dallas and the semifinals in Delray Beach.
Despite Giron’s recent struggles, he has managed to outperform Wolf in both the Indian Wells Masters and the Miami Open, where he failed to secure a victory. As a result, Giron, who is currently in better form, is favored to emerge victorious in this all-American clash.
The anticipated champion is still Marcos Giron.
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