Day 3 of action at the ATP 500 in Tokyo promises a mix of established names and players trying to punch above their weight. The conditions here have often rewarded aggressive baseliners, but with contrasting styles across the board, there\u2019s room for surprises as the week unfolds. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule. But who will advance?<\/p>\n
Head-to-Head:<\/strong> Vukic 1\u20130 Altmaier<\/p>\n Both have shown flashes of form lately, but Vukic\u2019s game tends to translate better to quicker hard courts, where his serve and first-strike approach can do damage. Altmaier, more at home on clay, hasn\u2019t had as many deep runs on this surface, though he competes hard and makes opponents work. Their clash feels like a battle between tempo and resistance, and whoever sets the rhythm early will likely dictate. Head-to-Head:<\/strong> first meeting<\/p>\n Shimabukuro thrives on home support and has looked sharp in Tokyo, but this is a real step up in opposition. Korda, after shaking off his pre-US Open<\/a> injury, has been building momentum again and his flat, clean hitting can take the racket out of an opponent\u2019s hands. If the Japanese wildcard finds ways to extend rallies, things could get interesting, but the margins are slim against Korda\u2019s weight of shot.
\nPrediction: Vukic in 3<\/em><\/p>\nSho Shimabukuro vs Sebastian Korda<\/h4>\n
\nPrediction: Korda in 3<\/em><\/p>\n