Frances Tiafoe played terrifically during the swing before and including last year’s US Open. He reached the ATP Washington semifinal before a run to the final of the Cincinnati Open and to the semifinal of the US Open for the second time. The American’s attempt at going further than 12 months ago in Washington starts against Aleksandar Kovacevic. We at LWOT predict all ten matches on the slate in three articles, including Taylor Fritz vs Aleksandar Vukic and Daniil Medvedev vs Reilly Opelka.
ATP Washington Day 3 Predictions
Jiri Lehecka vs Zachary Svajda
Head-to-head: First meeting
Svajda battled through his last two matches, including qualifying, in three sets. Although those were admirable efforts, none of his previous opponents in Washington were in Lehecka’s class. The Czech’s game is slightly more complete in all departments than Svajda’s. Mattia Belucci’s upset of Lehecka at Wimbledon a few weeks ago shows that a shock is possible, but the 23-year-old getting back on track remains the more likely outcome.
Prediction: Lehecka in 2
Lorenzo Sonego vs Matteo Arnaldi
Head-to-head: First meeting
Sonego is a better hard-court player than his compatriot. Arnaldi saved four match points and won in the last round against Daniel Altmaier from 3-5 0-40 in the deciding set. While that probably gave him some confidence, he almost certainly needs to play better to beat Sonego, something I doubt the younger Italian will achieve.
Prediction: Sonego in 2
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Jaume Munar
Head-to-head: Davidovich Fokina 2-2 Munar
Davidovich Fokina’s best level is superior to Munar’s, but he lost to him on a hard court at the start of this season at the Hong Kong Open. Predicting Davidovich Fokina’s matches is challenging due to his unpredictability, but I am backing him to beat Munar this time. The quick conditions in Washington suit him more than his fellow Spaniard.
Prediction: Davidovich Fokina in 3
Frances Tiafoe vs Aleksandar Kovacevic
Head-to-head: Tiafoe 2-0 Kovacevic
Tiafoe beat Kovacevic at last year’s Citi Open in three competitive sets before triumphing against him again at the US Open a few weeks later. The two-time semifinalist at Flushing Meadows has not replicated his level since this period of the season last year. However, he has a habit of coming alive on home soil, and a deep run in Washington is possible. Expect him to find a way to get past Kovacevic again.
Prediction: Tiafoe in 2
Main Photo Credit: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports
