Day 4 will feature the next round of four second round matches. The slate is highlighted by Americans Sam Querrey, a former finalist here, and Steve Johnson, the #1 seed and two-time defending champion. In a draw that has shown to be very open, most of these players have a good shot at making a deep run.
ATP Houston Day 4 Predictions
Santiago Giraldo vs Jordan Thompson
Head-to-head: First Meeting
Thompson has had a good season after battling through the Challenger circuit. Giraldo has dropped significantly in ranking as he exits the prime of his career, but he has won all three of his matches here in Houston in straight sets, including qualifiers. Thompson is the stronger player, but Giraldo seems to be comfortable here and is the better player on clay.
Prediction: Giraldo in 3
Janko Tipsarevic vs Cameron Norrie
Head-to-head: First Meeting
After getting in with a wild card due to his ranking, Tipsarevic delivered an impressive straight set victory over last year’s finalist Tennys Sandgren. Norrie is playing his first main draw match in Houston after losing in qualifying last year. This match is a bit of a toss-up because it is hard to know where Tipsarevic is at in his fitness, while Norrie has very little experience on clay courts. At the end, Tipsarevic’s comfort on the surface will lead him to prevail and reach his first quarterfinal since 2016.
Prediction: Tipsarevic in 3
Steve Johnson vs Daniel Elahi Galan
Head-to-head: First Meeting
Johnson won Houston the last two seasons for two of his four career titles, and the only two on clay courts. Galan qualified for the tournament after playing only one ATP main draw match all of 2018. He did beat Paolo Lorenzi, a good clay court player in the first round here. Johnson is very comfortable in Houston, and although he has struggled much of the past calendar year, he will win easily in his path to defending his title.
Prediction: Johnson in 2
Sam Querrey vs Guillermo Garcia-Lopez
Head-to-head: 7-1 Querrey
The only match of the day that is not a first time meeting features players very familiar with each other, with eight meetings between them. Querrey has dominated the head-to-head, but it is worth noting that Garcia-Lopez won their one meeting on clay. Both players have been far from their best lately, but Querrey simply has more high level matches under his belt over the past year and will find a way to pull out a victory.
Prediction: Querrey in 3
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