Day 4 at the 2021 ATP Citi Open in Washington will feature all the eight singles third-round matches. Some of the more exciting ones on the slate will feature two up-and-coming youngster clashing against each other. Who do you think will advance? We also predict the rest of the day’s matches in a separate article.
ATP Washington Day 4 Predictions
Ilya Ivashka vs Mackenzie McDonald
Head-to-head: Ivashka 2-0
They’ve already faced each other twice this year with Ilya Ivashka taking both meetings. While the previous matches were contested on clay and hard courts should give Mackenzie McDonald a much better chance, the Belarusian’s stunning form of late can’t be underestimated. He’s making a solid run after a solid run on the ATP Tour, and should continue doing just that here.
Prediction: Ivashka in 3
Jenson Brooksby vs Felix Auger-Aliassime
Head-to-head: First meeting
Jenson Brooksby’s barely losing matches this season with three Challenger Tour titles (Potchefstroom, Orlando, and Tallahassee), and a runner-up appearance at Newport. The 20-year-old is playing fantastic tennis and this hard court season will be when we see how it squares up against the very best. Along with a very slow start that Felix Auger-Aliassime had against Andreas Seppi, perhaps another Brooksby upset could be on the cards here.
Prediction: Brooksby in 3
Kei Nishikori vs Cameron Norrie
Head-to-head: Nishikori 1-0
Cameron Norrie is having the best season of his career and shows no signs of slowing down as he recently took the title at Los Cabos. He might be in trouble here though as Kei Nishikori hasn’t looked this inspired in quite a while. The Japanese made a great run at the Olympics at home and continued that with straightforward wins against the ever-dangerous Alexander Bublik and Sam Querrey. The 2015 champion could be in for a long stay at Washington again.
Prediction: Nishikori in 2
Jannik Sinner vs Sebastian Korda
Head-to-head: First meeting
Jannik Sinner scored his first match win since the French Open in the opening round against Emil Ruusuvuori. The Italian hasn’t been in great form of late and will be trying to regain it here. Sebastian Korda took a break after a fantastic run at Wimbledon but he should be carrying more confidence and match rhythm. This North-American hard court season could be where the 21-year-old really explodes.
Prediction: Korda in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
