Taylor Fritz won the ATP 250 title in Eastbourne in 2019 and 2022, but suffered a shock exit to Mackenzie McDonald in his opening match last year. This time he’s facing Thiago Seyboth Wild in the same round and the Brazilian has already taken him out this year in Miami. Will Fritz be able to fend off the dangerous contender this time around?
ATP Eastbourne Day 3 Predictions
Billy Harris vs Charles Broom
Head-to-head: Harris 3-1
Other than their four professional matches, these two also squared off at plenty all-British competitions in the last few years (and the head-to-head between them is much closer if you choose to include that). Most importantly, Charles Broom defeated Billy Harris in Nottingham just two weeks ago in a Challenger semifinal. But it’s the 29-year-old who has the bigger weapons and it’s not clear that Broom will be able to do it again, especially after his performances in the qualifying were a bit sketchy, leading to him having to rely on a lucky loser spot.
Prediction: Harris in 3
Yoshihito Nishioka vs Marcos Giron
Head-to-head: 2-2
Yoshihito Nishioka posted just the second grass-court tour-level win of his career when he beat Liam Broady, but let’s not forget the Japanese also raced through the qualifying here with victories over Arthur Fery and Aleksandar Vukic. The task is going to be even tougher now with Marcos Giron showing some really good form the last few weeks. Grass helps him be a little more offensively-minded than usual and the American has been making full use of that. This is a nice chance for him to keep going.
Prediction: Giron in 2
Giles Hussey vs Flavio Cobolli
Head-to-head: First meeting
What a week it’s been for Giles Hussey already as he took out World No. 98 Arthur Cazaux and World No. 32 Mariano Navone despite never even facing a Top 100 opponent before. Flavio Cobolli is also far from unbeatable on grass courts, but the Italian adapted pretty well in his defeat of Arthur Rinderknech and only lost tight matches to Jan-Lennard Struff and Hubert Hurkacz in recent weeks. While Hussey’s experience on grass as a Brit might be a factor, it’s unlikely to be enough.
Prediction: Cobolli in 2
Taylor Fritz vs Thiago Seyboth Wild
Head-to-head: Seyboth Wild 1-0
Thiago Seyboth Wild defeated Taylor Fritz in a great performance in Miami earlier this season, but the American top seed might be a little tougher to upset on grass. Seyboth Wild needs to serve like in their previous encounter again and hope that he will have enough time to dictate. It feels like Fritz has that weight of shot on this surface that will allow him to avoid the mistakes from their Miami meeting and be the one playing front-foot tennis this time around.
Prediction: Fritz in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
