It should be an entertaining day of tennis at the ATP Tokyo Open with six second-round matches on the slate in Japan’s capital. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match, including Frances Tiafoe vs Bernabe Zapata Miralles, but who will secure their spot in the quarterfinals?
ATP Tokyo 4 Predictions
Taylor Fritz vs Hiroki Moriya
Head-to-head: Fritz 1-0 Moriya
Taylor Fritz has taken a clear step forward this season, winning the biggest title of his career so far in Indian Wells and making a quarterfinal run at Wimbledon where he came excruciatingly close to eliminating Rafael Nadal. He had been stumbling lately, however, but after three first-round exits in as many tournaments, the American has finally won a match in Tokyo, defeating James Duckworth in three sets.
Fritz, now 11th in the rankings, can now look to make a push to not only break the top 10 for the first time in his career but also a late push to make the ATP Finals in Torino. Standing in his way here is lucky loser Hiroki Moriya, who bounced back well from his loss to Sho Shimabukuro in the qualifying to beat Yuta Shimizu 6-1 6-3. The two met previously six years ago in Australian Open qualifying, where Fritz won 6-3 6-1. Expect a similar outcome this time.
Prediction: Fritz in 2
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Borna Coric vs Brandon Nakashima
Head-to-head: first meeting
Perhaps the most exciting match-up of the day. Cincinnati champion Borna Coric is looking to prove the run was not a flash in the pan after his struggles in the first few months of his comeback from injury. Since winning the biggest title of his career, the Croat had a tough time at the US Open, pushed to five sets by Enzo Couacaud before being eliminated by Jenson Brooksby in straight sets in the second round. Coric had a decent showing at Davis Cup group stages, beating Mikael Ymer and Francisco Cerundolo and taking a set off Matteo Berrettini.
This week, the 25-year-old took out Thanasi Kokkinakis in straight sets in the opener and will now face Brandon Nakashima. The American has had a strong year himself, establishing himself on the main tour and breaking into the top 50, reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon, and winning his first ATP title in his home tournament in San Diego. In his Tokyo opener, Nakashima beat Shintaro Mochizuki in straight sets. This should be a very even match between two strong baseline players. But Coric probably has the higher level. Just about.
Prediction: Coric in 3
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Nick Kyrgios vs Kamil Majchrzak
Head-to-head: first meeting
2016 Tokyo champion Nick Kyrgios has had his most successful season yet with his first slam final at Wimbledon, quarterfinals at Australian Open and US Open and a title in Washington. Had points been awarded at Wimbledon, the Australian would now be sitting at seventh in the ATP Race to Torino. In his first match in almost a month since the US Open, Kyrgios dismissed Chun-Hsin Tseng 6-3 6-1. Majchrzak has had a largely mediocre season with the Sofia quarterfinal last week being one of the biggest highlights. In the first round, the Pole defeated qualifier Sho Shimabukuro in straight sets. Kyrgios should be winning this match as Majchrzak would have to summon the best tennis of his season so far to pull off the upset here.
Prediction: Kyrgios in 2
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