It should be an entertaining third day at the ATP Washington Open, with 10 matches on the schedule William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate, including Gael Monfils vs Alexander Bublik and Yosuke Watanuki vs Felix Auger-Aliassime. But who will secure their spot in the third round?
ATP Washington Day 3 Predictions
Ugo Humbert vs Thanasi Kokkinakis
Head-to-head: first meeting
It’s not been a particularly good season for either man, with Ugo Humbert posting a 14-15 record so far in 2023 whilst Thanasi Kokkinakis has gone 13-10, picking up that 13th win in the first round this week at the expense of Taro Daniel. But although it’s been a disappointing season for Humbert overall, he’s actually found some form of late and comes into this match having made back-to-back semifinals in Newport and Atlanta. Neither draw was exactly stacked and it would be real a surprise to see him reach a third straight semifinal in Washington, but less of a surprise were he to beat the Australian.
Prediction: Humbert in 3
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Gregoire Barrere vs Daniel Evans
Head-to-head: Barrere 1-0 Evans
Dan Evans is one of a few players trying to turn a disappointing season around in Washington. He has won just one match since reaching the semifinals in Barcelona in April and none at tour-level. He is a good enough player to win this match and, though it may be a cliché, form is temporary whereas class is permanent. Unfortunately, that does not change the fact that Evans is in dreadful form and that Barrere is a tricky opponent who won their only previous match. The wait for Evans might just go on another week.
Prediction: Barrere in 2
Brandon Nakashima vs Andy Murray
Head-to-head: Murray 1-0 Nakashima
At the respective stages of their careers on this surface, this is a match that Brandon Nakashima should probably be winning. The American has a game well-suited to the hard courts of his home country, whereas Andy Murray, though once one of the world’s best in these conditions, is not the force he once was on the asphalt. But Nakashima has had a disappointing season, whereas Murray continues to defy the odds and of the two, it is the 36-year-old Briton (metal hip and all) who is ranked in the top 50. Expect him to demonstrate why here.
Prediction: Murray in 3
Main photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
