Day 2 at the ATP Winston-Salem Open will feature the rest of the first round, plus a few Round 2 matches. Players are trying to get in top form before the US Open. As always, we here at LWOT are here to share our thoughts on all the matches with you. Who do you think will win on Monday in North Carolina?
ATP Winston-Salem Day 2 Predictions
Tallon Griekspoor vs Alexei Popyrin
These two players have surprised me this year, and for opposite reasons. Griekspoor is playing much better than I’d have expected, while Popyrin is nowhere near living up to his potential. Of course, the difference in expectations exists for a reason. Popyrin is more powerful off the ground and should be able to control a hard court match.
Prediction: Popyrin in 2
Christopher O’Connell vs Adrian Mannarino
O’Connell looked like a potential rising star a few years back, but he never made it into anything real on tour. Mannarino, meanwhile, is a bit off his peak, but he’s almost as solid as always. The Frenchman should move on.
Prediction: Mannarino in 2
Shintaro Mochizuki vs Alejandro Tabilo
Mochizuki is a 19-year-old lucky loser (lost to Marc-Andrea Heusler in qualifying), ranked outside the Top 350, who got the perfect draw on a quick hard court. Tabilo prefers clay courts and hasn’t made as much of an impact on hard courts. The Chilean should still win, but Mochizuki couldn’t ask for a better shot at a first career Tour-level win.
Prediction: Tabilo in 3
Marton Fucscovics vs Chun-Hsin Tseng
It’s kind of crazy that Fucsovics is a lucky loser, but that’s how far he’s fallen in recent years. Tseng is only ranked six places higher, both barely inside the Top 100. Fuscovics is far more consistent and powerful when his game is clicking. Unfortunately for him, that “when” has been in dwindling supply.
Prediction: Tseng in 3
Steve Johnson vs Emilio Nava
Emilio Nava is a rising American who will absolutely make his mark on the Tour someday. He sits at a career-high ranking of #200 and will likely move up soon. Nava will face the aging Steve Johnson, who (unlike Nava) made his mark in college tennis before going pro. Johnson’s talents seem to be fading and he’s clearly on the downswing of his career, but he’s still consistent enough to get through this match. I don’t know if that will be the case in a year, though, because Nava is coming.
Prediction: Johnson in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
