Day 3 of the ATP 500 event in Washington will see the return to action of Rafael Nadal, as the 20-time Slam champion has been absent from the tour since Roland Garros due to injury. Nadal will face a somewhat ressurgent Jack Sock in his opening match. We also predict the rest of the day’s matches, split between two articles. One features Kei Nishikori vs Alexander Bublik, and the other highlights Grigor Dimitrov vs Ilya Ivashka.
ATP Washington Day 3 Predictions
Brandon Nakashima vs Daniel Evans
Head-to-head: first meeting
Nakashima has been on a roll, making back-to-back finals in Los Cabos and Atlanta. Although he lost both finals, he’ll still be high on confidence, especially after dispatching Popyrin in the first round here. That said, Evans has a much superior track record on the tour, as his ranking proves, and you have to figure Nakashima will run out of gas at some point with all the tennis he’s been playing lately.
Prediction: Evans in 3
Lloyd Harris vs Tennys Sandgren
Head-to-head: first meeting
Both players have been struggling a lot lately. Harris made the final in Dubai with an extraordinary run, but hasn’t really kicked on since, while Sandgren has been struggling to string wins all year. Maybe a return to hardcourts is just what the doctor orderer for the big-serving South African to get his year back on track.
Prediction: Harris in 3
Elias Ymer vs John Millman
Head-to-head: first meeting
Ymer scored an upset win over Thompson in the first round and he’s now facing another veteran Aussie in Millman, who’s just come back from Tokyo, where he reached the second round. This is another highly unpredictable match, but Ymer has been on quite a run here in Washington, getting through qualifying and winning a main draw match already while Millman might have some issues adjusting having just returned from Tokyo. That might be enough to tilt the scales in the end.
Prediction: Ymer in 3
Rafael Nadal vs Jack Sock
Head-to-head: Nadal 5-0 Sock
Rafael Nadal is back to the ATP tour and his return match has the potential to be somewhat interesting. Sock has put together some matches wins of late and he caused some problems to Nadal in the past despite the 5-0 head-to-head. The Spaniard is still the overwhelming favorite, but he might be a bit rusty and run into some difficulties here if Sock is particularly inspired on the day.
Prediction: Nadal in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
