The final is set at the 2023 ATP Dallas Open as No. 5 seed John Isner will take on 23-year-old Yibing Wu. These players are in very different stages of their careers, with a completely different rolodex of history at this level. Isner is looking to win his 17th career title (and 15th on U.S. soil), while Wu looks to become the first Chinese man to win an ATP event in the Open Era. Who do you think will raise the title in Dallas?
ATP Dallas Final Prediction
John Isner vs Yibing Wu
Head-to-Head: first meeting
After a slow start to the season, Isner has found his groove as his favorite type of event–an ATP 250 in the United States. The 37-year-old has been broken just one time this week and has dropped just one set in four matches. That said, he has broken his opponents only three times and has relied on a 4-0 tiebreak record to reach the final. Isner’s game plan is very predictable. He will aim to condense this match down to a few key points that decide the outcome.
Wu missed the 2020 and 2021 seasons with injury but returned with vengeance in 2022. He posted a 37-7 record last year, reaching four Challenger-level finals. That success has immediately translated over to the ATP Tour. Wu has cruised through the Dallas Open field with wins over Michael Mmoh, Denis Shapovalov, Adrian Mannarino, and Taylor Fritz. The moment does not seem too big for him. It almost seems as if he is playing with controlled aggression because he was kept off the court for so long.
The 23-year-old possesses a skill set that will trouble even the best players in the world. Wu’s combination of athleticism and power from the ground is not something we often see. The key for him will be to get as many Isner serves in play as possible. Once the point gets going, Wu has a clear advantage. The American will hit his fair share of aces, but I believe Wu can put enough pressure on the Isner serve and force him to crack. Wu has been terrific in pressure moments this week. That should not change on Sunday.
Prediction: Wu in 3
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