The second edition of the ATP Dallas Open will welcome the headline hitters for the second straight day. Top seed Taylor Fritz will face Jack Sock in a rematch from last year at this event. Five second-round matches will be decided on Thursday. So who will reach the quarterfinal?
ATP Dallas Open Day 4 Predictions
Emilio Gomez vs Miomir Kecmanovic
Head-to-head: Kecmanovic 1-0 Gomez
Kecmanovic was dominant in his singles win at the Davis Cup as Serbia completed a clean sweep in their tie against Norway. It was an emphatic response by Kecmanovic following his surprise defeat at this year’s Australian Open where he lost at the first hurdle to Nicolas Jarry. Emilio Gomez, meanwhile, scored the 19th Tour-level win of his career albeit in fortuitous circumstances. He was slated to play the more accomplished Taro Daniel, but the Japanese man pulled out on the eve of their match. That opened the door for the Ecuadorian to register his second win in as many weeks against lucky loser Gabriel Diallo. But he will be no match for the Serbias’s No. 2.
Prediction: Kecmanovic in 2
Jordan Thompson vs Adrian Mannarino
Head-to-head: Mannarino 3-1 Thompson
Thompson was finally able to get his first main draw win this season, beating Denis Kudla in straight sets. The Aussie doesn’t have a great track record against the flat-hitting Adrian Mannarino. They have played four times before and it is Mannarino who has won three bouts-all on grass. Mannarino used to be a beacon of consistency in these conditions, but not anymore. Thompson is a competent baseliner and will look to extend the rallies to test Mannarino’s overall mobility around the court. If he succeeds in that aspect, he might upset the Frenchman.
Prediction: Thompson in 3
John Isner vs Daniel Altmaier
Head-to-head: first meeting
I still can’t get my head around Altmaier’s opening match against Zachary Svajda where he was instilled as the underdog. Granted the German doesn’t possess the all-round game to succeed in these conditions, but Svajda did not have Tour-level experience of any note. And that proved telling as Altmaier eased his way into the second round. However, this is where the level of competition will go up a notch. John Isner is the most experienced man in the 28-man field in Dallas. He has won the bulk of his 18 ATP titles on home turf. And even at 37, he looks like a decent shout to add another title to his trophy cabinet this week.
Prediction: Isner in 3
Marcos Giron vs Oscar Otte
Head-to-head: first meeting
It’s been a tough start to the year for Oscar Otte. He arrived at the ATP Dallas Open with just one win in five matches. Things went awry for his country last weekend as they lost to Switzerland in the Davis Cup qualifiers. But he managed to turn his season around with a rousing three-set win over Christopher Eubanks. He’s got the game tailor-made for this surface. If Giron takes his eye off the ball, as he did against Rybakov, it could get really interesting. I like Otte’s chances here.
Prediction: Otte in 3
Taylor Fritz vs Jack Sock
Head-to-head: Fritz 3-2 Sock
Sock will be looking to exact revenge after falling at the same stage in this tournament last season to Fritz. He didn’t even travel to Australia last month and instead worked on his fitness in an extended offseason. He was handsomely rewarded as he won a three-hour marathon against Ilya Ivashka in the first round. Will lightning strike twice? Highly unlikely. Fritz is at his absolute pomp right now and I expect a response from his chaotic and eyebrow-raising defeat to Popyrin Down Under.
Prediction: Fritz in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
