A few first-round picks from the HSBC Championships in London today, and we've got a nice mix of mismatches and coin-flips to sort through. Let's get into it.
HSBC Championships Predictions
Ignacio Buse vs Rafael Jodar
Head-to-head: Buse 1-0 Jodar
Buse holds the only H2H win, but this is grass, and Jodar's game travels much better to this surface. Buse is a clay grinder at heart and has never really shown he can hurt players on the quick stuff indoors. Jodar's flatter ball-striking and willingness to come forward should make him uncomfortable here.
This one could be closer than the rankings suggest, but I think Jodar finds a way through in three sets, all things considered.
Prediction: Jodar in 3
Alex De Minaur vs Gabriel Diallo
Head-to-head: Minaur 2-0 Diallo
De Minaur is one of the best movers on the tour and on grass that footwork becomes almost unfair, letting him chase down balls that would be clean winners against anyone else. Diallo has the serve and the wingspan to cause problems, but he hasn't found a way past De Minaur in two tries, both of which were pretty one-sided affairs, and this surface doesn't fix any of the issues Diallo had in those losses. Hard to see this being competitive at all.
Prediction: Minaur in 2
Jakub Mensik vs Adrian Mannarino
Head-to-head: First meeting
Mannarino on grass is always a bit of a puzzle to play. His slicey, floaty, left-handed game genuinely disrupts rhythm and he's beaten players far higher ranked than Mensik on this surface before. That said, Mensik is a big talent and at 17 in the world he's clearly on a strong run of form, and his serve should bail him out in the tight moments here.
I feel like this goes three sets before Mensik's power eventually tips it his way.
Prediction: Mensik in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Matthieu Mirville/ZUMA Press Wire