Day 2 of the 2023 ATP National Bank Open in Toronto is full of matches where the favorite is extremely tough to pick. Here’s literally four of them as Cameron Norrie takes on Alex de Minaur and Alexander Zverev battles last week’s Washington runner-up, Tallon Griekspor. We also look at the rest of the day’s matches, split between two other articles. One features Andy Murray vs Lorenzo Sonego and the second features Casper Ruud vs Jiri Lehecka. Who do you think will advance?
ATP Toronto Day 2 Predictions
Mackenzie McDonald vs Aslan Karatsev
Head-to-head: 1-1
You never know what to expect from Aslan Karatsev, although if you think about it he’s actually been fairly consistent since Madrid. Mackenzie McDonald isn’t the easiest first-round opponent though, especially on courts that could provide a bit of a boost to his flat ball-striking. This should be pretty close and while Karatsev undeniably has the higher upside, McDonald has also shown on many occasions that he’s got upset potential when playing with confidence.
Prediction: McDonald in 3
Ugo Humbert vs Nicolas Jarry
Head-to-head: First meeting
Ugo Humbert would have been the favorite to win this one, but he had to withdraw ahead of the quarterfinals in Washington with a left leg issue. How serious is it? That’s something we have no info on as the previous match had the Frenchman still flying high. Nicolas Jarry did pretty well in Los Cabos too, so he’s probably the favorite under the circumstances. Even with Humbert healthy, the Chilean’s serve would still give him a decent shot.
Prediction: Jarry in 3
[cta id=4014 type=cta]
Alexander Zverev vs Tallon Griekspoor
Head-to-head: 1-1
This would have been a huge upset alert if not for Tallon Griekspoor’s run in Washington, which could leave him a bit depleted for Toronto. Alexander Zverev won the ATP 500 in Hamburg recently, but does that mean he’ll finally be back to his best game? That remains to be seen, especially as it’s the first match of the hard-court season for him. Griekspoor should have his chances, but he needs to be hitting with so much intensity to win this one and it’s unclear whether he’ll be able to bring it.
Prediction: Zverev in 3
Cameron Norrie vs Alex de Minaur
Head-to-head: 1-1
This is a pretty fun matchup as it’s hard to determine what the dynamics of play will be. Both players are among the fastest players on tour and they’re known for their stamina as well. Both usually take on the counter-punching role, but someone will have to stay a bit more aggressive here. Cameron Norrie just hasn’t been doing that well in recent months and his serve toss is becoming a bit of a problem. Maybe that makes Alex de Minaur a slight favorite.
Prediction: de Minaur in 3
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
