It’s time to wrap up the second round at the ATP 250 in Houston. 2023 champion and 2024 runner-up Frances Tiafoe will kick things off against Adam Walton, while Brandon Nakashima returns to an unfavorable matchup with Mackenzie McDonald. Meanwhile, 2011 runner-up Kei Nishikori might be ready to produce a throwback for the veteran fans. Who do you think will make the quarterfinals?
ATP Houston Day 4 Predictions
Mackenzie McDonald vs Brandon Nakashima
Head-to-head: McDonald 4-1
This has been a surprisingly difficult rivalry for Brandon Nakashima, who hasn’t defeated Mackenzie McDonald since their first match in Orlando back in 2020. While his clay beginnings were pretty rough too, over the years he pushed himself to compete a lot on the surface and eventually reach a great level. The same cannot be said about McDonald, who hits much flatter and before this week, hadn’t won a match on this surface since 2022 Roland Garros. Nakashima can fight back in this head-to-head here.
Prediction: Nakashima in 2
Frances Tiafoe vs Adam Walton
Head-to-head: Tiafoe 1-0
Frances Tiafoe’s record this year is quite fascinating: he’s won exactly one match in every single event. Looks like he should also be able to get through his opening round here, but of course he’s got reasons to hope for even more. After winning the title in Houston in 2023, he also reached the final last year and lost a tight battle with Ben Shelton. Adam Walton’s passive playstyle doesn’t really fit this surface and the Har-Tru version of it isn’t enough to improve his chances by all that much.
Prediction: Tiafoe in 2
Alex Michelsen vs Adrian Mannarino
Head-to-head: 1-1
Adrian Mannarino’s form this year has been nothing short of a disaster and taking advantage of that lucky loser opportunity against Yannick Hanfmann is already huge. With a 4-13 record for the season, the Frenchman is desperately looking for a chance to rebuild his confidence. That is unlikely to come during the clay season and while the Houston dirt suits him a bit better, it seems like Alex Michelsen has also gotten the hang of it by now. At the moment, he’s just a class ahead.
Prediction: Michelsen in 2
Kei Nishikori vs Christopher Eubanks
Head-to-head: First meeting
Christopher Eubanks posted his second tour-level win on clay when he defeated Rinky Hijikata on Tuesday, but the quality of the competition will increase significantly here. While Kei Nishikori might be playing the event for the first time since reaching the 2011 final, even after all the injuries he remains a formidable foe. The ball-striking talent should help him dictate things off the ground here and there’s not much that Eubanks can contest him with other than the big serve.
Prediction: Nishikori in 2
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
