The third Slam of the season wrapped up over the weekend with Carlos Alcaraz and Marketa Vondrousova leaving the All England Club with their names etched in tennis history. The ATP Tour transitions over the Atlantic for the 2023 Infosys Hall of Fame Open in Newport, Rhode Island. The legendary grass courts at the International Tennis Hall of Fame welcome a 28-man draw with many young and hungry competitors. Day 2 features four main draw matches, including Kevin Anderson’s return from retirement, taking on young Canadian Gabriel Diallo. We at LWOT have the preview and prediction for that match and all other happenings around the grounds of Newport. But who will advance?
ATP Newport Day 2 Predictions
Maxime Cressy vs Alex Michelsen
Head-to-Head: first meeting
2022 Champion Maxime Cressy is looking to defend his title in Newport. The No. 5 seed comes to this event holding an abysmal 1-14 record since late February. A loss in this match would knock him out of the top 100 for the first time since January 2022. Cressy will take on 18-year-old American Alex Michelsen in Round 1. Michelsen is coming off his first Challenger title in Chicago and holds a 38-14 record this year across all levels. The young American will bring confidence to this match, but we have seen Cressy’s comfortability in Newport. I do not see Michelsen having an answer for Cressy’s serve-and-volley style.
Prediction: Cressy in 2
Aleksandar Vukic vs Li Tu
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Australian countrymen Aleksandar Vukic and Li Tu will square off for the first time with a spot in the Hall of Fame Open second round on the line. Vukic is ranked 169 spots ahead of Tu in the rankings and has much more tour-level experience. That said, Tu looked comfortable in two qualifying rounds and has an aggressive style of play to succeed on grass. I expect Tu to push Vukic more than their rankings suggest, but I see Vukic’s experience separating him in a deciding set.
Prediction: Vukic in 3
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Mukund Sasikumar vs Ethan Quinn
Head-to-Head: Sasikumar 1-0 Quinn
Mukund Sasikumar and Ethan Quinn will square off for the second time this month. Sasikumar bested the young American 7-5 4-6 7-6 in Bloomfield Hills. The 26-year-old native of India has been inconsistent this season and is 0-2 in his career in tour-level matches. Quinn just wrapped up his freshman year at the University of Georgia, where he was the 2023 NCAA Singles Champion. He has a top-50 future in the sport and gets more comfortable with each professional match he plays. Quinn will avenge his loss against Sasikumar as his fluidity lends itself to the grass.
Prediction: Quinn in 3
Kevin Anderson vs Gabriel Diallo
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Former World No. 5 Kevin Anderson returns to the ATP Tour for the first time in 16 months. The South African retired from the sport in May of 2022 due to injury but is back healthy and ready to compete. Anderson won this event back in 2021. His Round 1 opponent is 21-year-old Canadian Gabriel Diallo. He stands at 6-foot-8 and has a powerful serve that lends itself to grass courts. In this match, both men will exchange their share of aces. Whoever can have more success in the five+ shot rallies will have the upper hand. I believe that will be Anderson.
Prediction: Anderson in 3
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
