The final tournament before the US Open–the ATP Winston-Salem Open–heads into Round 2, with a clear favorite in Grigor Dimitrov. He might get some competition for the title from the tricky Maxime Cressy, or maybe the rising Jack Draper, and the number two seed Botic van de Zandschulp could make a run for it. It would be a surprise to see a repeat from last year’s champion, Ilya Ivashka, but after an all-time Masters 1000 surprise in Cincinnati, it feels like anything is possible. We call the matches. Who do you think will win?
ATP Winston-Salem Day 3 Predictions
Benjamin Bonzi vs Kyle Edmund
Head-to-head: first meeting
Kyle Edmund is struggling dramatically in his long-attempted return from injury. He is attempting just his fourth tournament at any level this year, and just comes from a futures event where he lost to a player outside the top 1500 (he himself has dropped over 500 places this year). Obviously his body is not where it was in years past when he won two hard court titles, and he should not be a difficult challenge for a player who, at the least, is winning regularly on the tour. Bonzi has plateaued this year after a somewhat late-career surge into the top 100 in 2021, but his level should easily move him past the unfortunate Brit.
Prediction: Bonzi in 2
Lorenzo Sonego vs Alejandro Tabilo
Head-to-head: first meeting
Sonego is struggling this year with a sub-.500 record, and he’s been no better on hard court. The surface happens to be his least accomplished, but he has the good fortune to face a player who is primarily a clay courter. Tabilo has improved this year from last, but he’s been stuck in the rankings the last few months, coinciding with the end of clay court season, and he hasn’t played on hard since the Australian Open. I don’t have confidence in Sonego right now, but Tabilo hasn’t shown any more than the Italian on the surface, and I think the latter’s experience could pay off.
Prediction: Sonego in 3
Jack Draper vs Fabio Fognini
Head-to-head: first meeting
Jack Draper finally had his Top 10 breakthrough, beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in Montreal. He continues his rise and he favors the hard court, although he is still very inexperienced on the ATP Tour. Fognini has loads of experience but seemingly little motivation, and is moving backwards while the Brit is surging forward. Draper should have plenty of drive to compete to his utmost here in Winston-Salem, as the draw is wide open and he could legitimately make a run to the finals for his first title. Fognini occasionally still beats decent players, though, and I can’t call this one in two.
Prediction: Draper in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
