On Thursday, players will compete for a spot in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston, vying for victory.
Despite a successful start to his clay swing, top seed Ben Shelton faced tough competition from Zizou Bergs and managed to secure a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory. In a surprising upset, second seed Francisco Cerundolo fell to rising Italian player Luciano Darderi, who claimed a hard-fought 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (4) win.
Both players advanced to the quarterfinals, along with fellow Americans Brandon Nakashima and J.J. Wolf. On Thursday, Frances Tiafoe, the defending champion, will be the featured player of the day.
Take a glimpse at the forecasts for the matches scheduled on Day 4 of the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships:
#1 – Dominic Thiem vs Rafael Nadal
Despite a five-year hiatus, Tiafoe triumphed in last year’s U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships to claim his second title. However, his current record of 7-7 for the season suggests a decline in form, as he enters this year’s competition as the third seed and was granted a bye into the second round.
Despite facing 11 break points, Duckworth was able to defeat Gijs Brouwer 6-3, 6-3 in the first round. While he and Tiafoe have previously met twice, it has been quite a while since their last match.
In 2015, Tiafoe and Duckworth faced each other twice, with both meetings going the full distance. Tiafoe came out on top in their match in Winston-Salem, while Duckworth emerged as the winner in Nice. Out of Tiafoe’s seven losses this year, six have been in straight sets, including one against an opponent ranked below the top 100.
Despite Tiafoe’s recent struggles, he must quickly regain his form to avoid another premature departure. While Duckworth has also not been performing exceptionally well on the tour, Tiafoe still holds the advantage in this matchup.
Anticipated champion: Frances Tiafoe
#2 – Tomas Martin Etcheverry Takes on Daniel Elahi Galan in Exciting Matchup
Despite a rocky start to the season, Etcheverry showed signs of improvement during the South American clay swing. He made it to two consecutive quarterfinals in Cordoba and Buenos Aires, but unfortunately sustained an injury at the latter tournament.
Despite being sidelined for a month, Etcheverry quickly returned to the Miami Open but unfortunately suffered a second-round loss. As the fourth seed with a first-round bye, he was a finalist in last year’s U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships.
Galan secured a victory over Benoit Paire in his first match at this tournament with a score of 7-6 (13), 6-4. This was only his third win of the entire season, as he has not been performing at his peak level. Despite being a formidable opponent on clay courts, Galan has struggled this season. However, his upcoming opponent, Etcheverry, should have the skills to overcome any challenges and advance in the tournament.
The forecasted champion is Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
#3 – Max Purcell vs Michael Mmoh: A Battle of Young Tennis Talents
Despite facing a challenging opponent in Alex Michelsen, Purcell emerged victorious in the first round with a 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-4 win. On the other hand, Mmoh had a smoother start as he beat Juan Pablo Varillas 6-2, 7-6 (4) in the opening round.
Both players put an end to their four-match losing streak with victories in the first round. This presents a valuable opportunity for them to earn some important points, taking into account their recent performance.
Despite neither player being comfortable on clay, they have managed to secure a combined total of five wins on this surface. As a result, this match is unpredictable as either of them could potentially emerge as the winner.
Despite Purcell being the higher-ranked player, Mmoh has captured the hearts of the crowd as their favorite. The enthusiastic support from the home crowd may serve as motivation for the American to advance to the next round.
Expected victor: Michael Mmoh
#4 – Jordan Thompson vs Aleksandar Kovecavic: A Matchup of Rising Tennis Stars
Despite claiming his maiden ATP title at the Los Cabos Open in February, Thompson faced three consecutive losses in the first round of his following tournaments. However, he was able to resume his winning streak by defeating Wu Yibing 6-4, 6-4 in the first round of the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships.
Kovacevic secured a hard-earned 7-6 (3), 6-7 (2), 6-4 victory against Thanasi Kokkinakis in the first round, marking his inaugural win on clay courts at the ATP level. Although Thompson has a lower winning percentage on red clay, he has accumulated more wins on the surface compared to his American counterpart.
Thompson’s rise in the rankings has resulted in him cracking the top 40 this year. Despite his recent slump, he has consistently played at a solid level. With Kovacevic’s lack of experience on clay, Thompson is expected to extend his successful run in Houston.
The anticipated victor is Jordan Thompson.
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