2015 Winston-Salem Open- Quarter-Finals Predictions

The action is beginning to heat up in Winston-Salem, with several surprise names mixing with the top seeds in the quarter-finals- here are my predictions for today!

Pierre-Hughes Herbert vs Pablo Carreno Busta

There is a surprise quarter-final in the top section as qualifier Pierre-Hughes Herbert faces the unseeded Pablo Carreno Busta. Having come through qualifying Herbert has been very impressive, seeing off Sergiy Stakhovsky in straight sets before battling past 14th seed Marcos Baghdatis and then cruising past Aljaz Bedene yesterday. Busta has also been impressive, seeing off Tommy Haas and 10th seed Joao Sousa in straight sets before edging past Simone Bolelli in three sets. Busta is in better form and is 83 places higher than Herbert in the rankings. However it was Herbert who won their only previous meeting in Stockholm on clay last year, and he will be confident after a stringing a few good matches together. However Busta is in the better form and should win this.

Prediction: Busta in 3

Steve Johnson vs Yen-Hsun Lu

13th seed Steve Johnson has a great opportunity to reach the semi-finals here as he faces the unseeded Yen-Hsun Lu. Johnson has won almost 30 main draw matches this year and has been in good form throughout the year, continuing it here with tough wins over Sam Groth and 3rd seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in three sets. Lu also played well in his first two matches, beating Robin Haase and 5th seed Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in straight sets, but then had to battle past Hyeon Chung in three sets yesterday. With both men coming of battles yesterday it could be close and whilst Lu leads the head to head 2-0, Johnson is in better form this year and should take this one.

Prediction: Johnson in 3

Thomaz Bellucci vs Malek Jaziri

There is also a good opportunity here for 6th seed Thomaz Bellucci as he faces Malek Jaziri in the final match of the day. Bellucci is having the best season of his career but has struggled so far here, having to battle bast Francis Tiafoe and 11th seed Jiri Vesely in three sets. Jaziri has had to play an extra match but has been slightly more comfortable, beating Joao Souza in straight sets before battling past 4th seed Viktor Troicki in three sets, before easing past 15th seed Teymuraz Gabashvilli in straight sets. Both men have never played each other before so it could be interesting to see how quickly they adapt to the way they both play. Bellucci has been in the better form this year and should edge this match, though Jaziri is capable of the upset.

Prediction: Bellucci in 3

Borna Coric vs Kevin Anderson

The only quarter-final where the seedings have worked out delivers an interesting match as 8th seed Borna Coric faces 2nd seed Kevin Anderson. Coric got off to a slow start in his opening match, but came from a set down to beat Santiago Giraldo before cruising past Diego Schwartzman yesterday. Anderson also came from a set down in his opening match against Mikhail Kukushkin, before edging the dangerous Jerzy Janowicz in two tight sets. Anderson has been less comfortable than Coric, but has certainly had more difficult matches than Coric and has more experience at this stage of tournament. Coric could, however, have the stronger game and has already beaten Nadal and Murray. However Anderson, with his serve and his experience, should edge this.

Prediction: Anderson in 3

2015 Winston-Salem Open- Wednesday Predictions

The action continues in Winston-Salem, with the men vying to reach the quarter-finals in North Carolina. Here are three of my predictions for today!

Jerzy Janowicz vs Kevin Anderson

There should be a lot of aces in this one, as 16th seed Jerzy Janowicz faces the 2nd seed Kevin Anderson first on Stadium Court. Janowicz is extremely erratic but was very impressive in his only match so far, easing past defending champion Lukas Rosol in a rematch of the final last year. Anderson was less impressive in his opening match, but eventually saw off Mikhail Kukushkin in three sets. Anderson does have the advantage, leading the head to head 2-0, and is certainly more consistent than the Pole. It should be close, though it seems likely that Anderson should be able to come through this one.

Prediction: Anderson in 3

Borna Coric vs Diego Schwartzman

Borna Coric continues his quest for a first career title as he faces Diego Schwartzman in the third round. Coric was made to work in his first match, but eventually saw off Santiago Giraldo in three sets. Schwartzman, not receiving a bye in the first round, beat Daniel Gimeno-Traver in two tight sets before battling past Pablo Andujar in three tight sets yesterday. Schwartzman is a clay court specialist and certainly doesn’t have the height or power that Coric has. Both men are still young and are probably a bit erratic, though Coric should be able to see this one off,

Prediction: Coric in 2

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs Steve Johnson

Steve Johnson will hope the crowd are fully behind him this evening as he takes on 3rd seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Stadium Court. Johnson is having the best year of his career, winning 26 main draw matches, and saw off Sam Groth in three sets yesterday. Tsonga has had a consistent year but hasn’t reached a final this year and had to come from a set down to beat Denis Istomin yesterday. The two have never played before so it will be interesting to see how quickly they get used to each others game. Whilst Johnson has had a good year, Tsonga has more experience and should edge this one.

Prediction: Tsonga in 3

Also in action

Hyeon Chung faces Yen-Hsun Lu first on Court 2, followed by Pablo Carreno Busta against Simone Bolelli. Aljaz Bedene faces Pierre-Hughes Herbert whilst Teymuraz Gabashvilli takes on Malek Jaziri and Tomaz Bellucci faces Jiri Vesely.

2015 Winston-Salem Open- Tuesday Predictions

Action continues in Winston-Salem as many matches delayed from yesterday take place, as well as some that were originally scheduled for today- here are three of my predictions!

Jo-Wilfred Tsonga vs Denis Istomin

Jo-Wilfred Tsonga looks to start his campaign for the Winston-Salem title with a win over Denis Istomin, who won his first career title earlier this year. Tsonga played well in Montreal, reaching the quarter-finals, but then lost early in Cincinnati and will be looking to pick up form as he is at risk of dropping out of the top 20 if he doesn’t defend is 4th round points at the US Open. Istomin won his first title in Nottingham earlier this year, but hasn’t been in great form since and is currently just inside the the top 70. Tsonga has won the four previous times they have played, and should have too much firepower for Istomin today.

Prediction: Tsonga in 2

Gilles Simon vs Aljaz Bedene

Top seed Gilles Simon will start his campaign for the title against Aljaz Bedene second on Stadium Court. Simon lost early in Montreal and Cincinnati and will be looking for some confidence before Flushing Meadows, though he won’t have the easiest opening match against Bedene. The Brit reached his first ATP final in Chennai earlier this year and is in the world’s top 60 for the first time. He also played well in his first match, cruising past Marco Cecchinato for the loss of just four games and certainly has the potential to beat Simon. However Bedene is quite inconsistent and Simon certainly has the better pedigree. It should be tight, but it seems Simon will come through this challenging match.

Prediction: Simon in 3

Benoit Paire vs Hyeon Chung

An in-form Benoit Paire could have a tricky match as he faces rising star Hyeon Chung in the second round. Paire won his first ATP title in Gstaad and is rising back up the rankings after a disappointing 2015. Chung, considered by many as a future star of the sport, has had a pretty consistent year and edged past James Ward in three sets in the opening round. It won’t be an easy match for Paire, but he has been in good form of late and should be able to come through this match. However Chung could make it difficult for the Frenchman this evening.

Prediction: Paire in 2

Also in action

2nd seed Kevin Anderson begins his campaign against Mikhail Kukushkin, whilst 7th seed Sam Querrey takes on Simone Bolelli and 13th seed Steve Johnson takes on Sam Groth. Defending champion Lukas Rosol takes on Jerzy Janowicz with several other matches taking place.

2015 Winston-Salem Open- Monday Predictions

It’s an extremely busy day in Winston-Salem as the final first round matches take place, as well as a few second round matches also happening. It should be a great day, with several intriguing matches set to happen. Here are three of my predictions!

Alexandr Dolgopolov vs Thanasi Kokkinakis

Alexandr Dolgopolov will be looking to continue his good run of form as he faces Thanasi Kokkinakis in an opening round match, which is second on Stadium court. Dolgopolov comes into this tournament following a run to the semi-finals in Cincinnati, where he was a qualifier, and will be full of confidence. Kokkinakis lost early in Cincinnati, and it will be interesting to see how well he plays following his involvement in two high profile, controversial issues within the past couple of weeks. Dolgopolov has risen back into the top 40 with his run to Cincinnati and is certainly playing better tennis than the young Australian at the moment. However he may be worn out following a long week in Cincinnati and Kokkinakis could have a chance if the Ukranian is tired. There is no doubt that Dolgopolov is in better form than Kokkinakis, and he should come through this one today.

Prediction: Dolgopolov in 2

Lukas Rosol vs Ernests Gulbis

Defending champion Lukas Rosol has been in poor form of late and has a difficult opening round match here as he faces Ernests Gulbis first on Stadium Court. Gulbis has been in generally poor form since his run to the semi-finals at the French Open last year and lost early in a Challenger in Vancouver last week, but reached the quarter-finals in Montreal in the previous week, having two match points against Novak Djokovic and beating Rosol on his way to the last eight in 3 sets. However Rosol has won their other two meetings without losing a set, including at Wimbledon this year, and is always a dangerous player- Nadal could tell you that. Gulbis is now higher ranked, due to his run in Montreal and Rosol losing his points for winning this tournament last year, and could be in better form. However as both men are erratic, in could go either way here.

Prediction: Gulbis in 3

Borna Coric vs Santiago Giraldo

8th seed Borna Coric starts his campaign for a first career title against Santiago Giraldo in a second round match up on Court 2. Coric has been in good form this year, and at a current ranking of 35th he is unlucky to be unseeded for the US Open. He faces Giraldo, who is through to the second round after Steve Darcis retired after just 2 games in their opening round match. Giraldo, a clay court specialist, has been in pretty average form this year and hasn’t really excelled on hard courts this year. Coric, like most of the young stars in tennis, can be erratic but should have enough to win today.

Prediction: Coric in 2

Also in action

There are several singles matches taking place with seeds such as Benoit Paire and Steven Johnson in action.