One of the ATP Tour’s hottest events, the BB&T Atlanta Open in Atlanta, GA starts main draw action Monday under the sunshine. This 250 event is also the start of the US Open Series. Here is your look at Monday’s three scheduled main draw matches.
Alexei Popyrin vs Denis Kudla
Former top 60 player Denis Kudla continues to grind it out on the fringes of the ATP tour, he has an opportunity to get a much needed main draw win against Alexei Popyrin, a 19 year old who is a new member of the top 100. The young Aussie has already shown his mettle at the Grand Slam level, notching wins against the accomplished Dominic Thiem in Australia, and Pablo Carreno Busta at Wimbledon. Kudla has more experience and will have home support but Popyrin is a player on the rise and should be the favorite here. Popyrin in 2
Cam Norrie vs Jordan Thompson
Britain’s Cam Norrie faces Aussie Jordan Thompson for the fourth time in their professional careers on Monday. Norrie holds a 2-1 h2h against Thompson but Thompson is the seeded player and won their hard court match in Miami this year in three sets. The Brit reached a career high of #41 earlier this year, his ranking boosted by a final appearance in Auckland and a semi in Acapulco most notably. Norrie faces the pressure of defending semifinal points in Atlanta. Thompson is at his career high of #43, boosted by a strong grass court swing that included a final in Den Bosch and a semi in Antalya. The Australian isn’t elite but he has plenty of potential and should be the favorite here given his win this year against Norrie, and the fact he’s playing with less pressure. Thompson in 3
Bradley Klahn vs Marius Copil
Romania’s Marius Copil has slipped outside of the top 80 since reaching a career high of #56 in January. He’s posted middling tour level results all season, but the start of the North American hard court summer presents an opportunity for him to get his season back on track. For his part, the home player Klahn defeated Copil in Stockholm last year in 3 sets and isn’t far removed from a challenger title on the USTA Pro Circuit. Klahn is another player who is on the fringe of the tour level right now and just getting by. However, playing at home gives him an advantage and Copil’s form is clearly off. Klahn in 3
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