Day two at the Winston-Salem Open was mostly washed out, leaving most of the first-round matches still to be completed. But a handful of intriguing second-round clashes have been set, with former Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych and recent Queen’s Club champion Feliciano Lopez amongst those ready to battle for a place in the third round. The question now is: who will reach the last 16?
Winston-Salem Open Day Three Predictions
Feliciano Lopez vs Pablo Andujar
Head-to-head: Lopez 2-1 Andujar
Lopez has had a rather difficult season, with his thrilling run to the Queen’s Club title a rare standout success in what has been a year of struggle for the veteran Spaniard. He did come through the qualifying in Montreal, aided by Ivo Karlovic’s retirement, but lost there to John Millman in three-sets before falling to Miomir Kecmanovic in the final round of qualifying in Cincinnati. As the 16th seed at the Winston-Salem Open, he received a first-round bye.
Pablo Andujar, meanwhile, had been out of action since the Austrian Open in Kitzbuhel, where he reached the quarterfinals. But he looked sharp nonetheless in dispatching Chile’s Nicolas Jarry 6-4 6-2 in the first round in Winston-Salem. When he is at his best, his solid hitting and excellent court coverage make him a formidable opponent and he will surely have taken real confidence from his victory over Jarry. It may just be enough to carry him across the line against his countryman.
Prediction: Andujar in 3
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Marco Cecchinato vs John Millman
Head-to-head: Cecchinato 4-0 Millman
Marco Cecchinato had been struggling badly coming into the Winston-Salem Open, having lost ten matches on the bounce. He managed to snap that streak courtesy of Alexander Bublik’s retirement trailing 6-7 0-1. He has also proven something of a bogeyman to John Millman, having beaten the Australian in all four of their previous clashes. Although three of those four matches were played on clay, the most recent came on the grass courts at Devonshire Park. Nonetheless, on a hard court, it is hard to look past Millman. Expect the gritty Queenslander to grind Cecchinato down.
Prediction: Millman in 2
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Pablo Carreno Busta vs Marius Copil
Head-to-head: Carreno Busta 1-0 Copil
In their second meeting in as many weeks, Pablo Carreno Busta will take on Romania’s Marius Copil for a place in the third round at the Winston-Salem Open. In their previous match, which was also their first, Carreno Busta emerged with a decisive 6-2 6-2 victory in the first round of qualifying in Cincinnati, where he went on to reach the third round. In Winston-Salem, he has yet to take to the court after a first-round bye.
Copil, unseeded, began his campaign in North Carolina with a battling 6-4 3-6 6-3 win over Martin Klizan of Slovakia. His serve worked well in the match as he hammered down 21 aces and he will need another good day at the line to oust the Spaniard. But even if he does serve well, it is hard to see Copil winning this match. Instead, Carreno Busta’s consistency from the back of the court and his excellent movement seem destined to halt Copil’s challenge.
Prediction: Carreno Busta in 2
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Tomas Berdych vs Filip Krajinovic
Head-to-head: Berdych 1-0 Krajinovic
Tomas Berdych looks to be nearing the end of his career, in large part due to a persistent back injury. But the big-hitting Czech showed in his three-set win over Andreas Seppi in the first round that whilst he may not be the force he once was, he can still be a force to be reckoned with. Krajinovic, who enjoyed a first-round bye, will be well aware of the danger Berdych can pose having lost to him 6-7 7-6 5-7 in the quarterfinals in Montpellier earlier this season. And if the 2010 Wimbledon finalist can find his range again, he should feel confident about his chances of claiming another victory, though it looks set to be another close contest.
Prediction: Berdych in 3
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