Thursday sees the remaining four second round ATP matches in Atlanta with the quarterfinal slate to be set at the end of the day. The top seed Taylor Fritz is in action, hoping to advance and try and score his second title on home soil in 2023. An unseeded player will probably draw the next most interest with Kei Nishikori making another comeback from injury but playing good, consistent tennis that will hopefully continue. J.J. Wolf takes on Maxime Cressy in an all-American showdown as well, so there will be plenty of excitement throughout the day for home fans. All four of the day’s matches are previewed below.
Kei Nishikori vs Juncheng Shang
Head-to-head: first meeting
Nishikori has finally returned to Tour-level tennis after beginning his return to tennis at the Challenger level. He already won a challenger last month and played great tennis in his first-round win over Jordan Thompson who had been in strong form. Shang is a player who has also been mostly at the Challenger level this year. He has won a lot of Challenger and qualifying matches in 2023 but has not quite been able to continue that form against tour-level talent. Nishikori’s veteran experience will serve him well, and while he is still working to get back to his top level, Shang does not quite have enough tools to frustrate Nishikori so the match will go in his favor.
Prediction: Nishikori in 3
J.J. Wolf vs Maxime Cressy
Head-to-head: 1-1
The two Americans are meeting in the first time in almost a year when Wolf won in straight sets on an indoor hard court in Florence. 2022 was a breakout year for Cressy, who really found a way to be effective with his serve and volley tennis. He made the final in Montpellier early in the year but has completely lost his form since. He is just 2-13 since February, with one of those his first round win over Alex Michelsen here in Atlanta who was likely tired after playing in a final two days earlier.
Wolf had a decent grass court season, and his strong return can be effective on hard and is good enough to get to Cressy’s serve. Cressy has simply struggled to win matches and Wolf is a player who can play solid tennis and avoid the mistakes to give Cressy critical chances. This one should be fairly one-sided in Wolf’s favor.
Prediction: Wolf in 2
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Daniel Evans vs Dominik Koepfer
Head-to-head: 3-0 Evans
While Evans has the edge in their prior meetings, they have not played since 2019 when Evans was in much better form. He is just 9-17 on the year and while he showed some promise on the clay, he has lost his last six hard court matches. Koepfer has still played mostly Challengers this season but has two titles on the circuit and has been able to score several main draw wins. Though he plays his best on clay, he won a Challenger on hard in November and scored a good win over John Isner in the first round here.
Evans’ rank remained high enough for him to be seeded, so this will be his first match back on hard court, while Koepfer has one under his belt with that first round win. The extra comfort alongside with Koepfer’s far better form both give him the advantages in this one.
Prediction: Koepfer in 3
Taylor Fritz vs Yibing Wu
Head-to-head: 1-0 Wu
The two young talents are facing off for the second time this year, after a thrilling three set semifinal in Dallas that Wu pulled out after falling a set down en route to his first and only career title. He has struggled to keep the momentum from that and came into Atlanta with a four match losing streak, though all of those were on grass. Fritz also had a disappointing grass season to his standards, but will be happy to be back on hard courts, where he has made the quarterfinal round or further in his last five tournaments on the surface, highlighted by a title in Delray Beach.
Fritz seems to have lost a step at the top level, but he has remained consistent and used his big serve and his power to continue to win matches. Wu will not be able to find the magic he did in Dallas as Fritz will remain in control throughout the match.
Prediction: Fritz in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
