A few picks from the Canadian Open to get into today, and there are some interesting matchups on the hard courts in Montreal. Let us know who you think comes through.
Canadian Open Predictions
Joao Fonseca vs Ben Shelton
Head-to-head: Fonseca 0-1 Shelton
Fonseca has been one of the most exciting young players to watch this season, and at 27 in the rankings he's already proven he belongs at this level. But Shelton on hard courts is a completely different proposition to dealing with him on clay, and the serve alone makes him a nightmare to break in best-of-three. Their only previous meeting, which was a straight-sets affair, went to Shelton and there's nothing in the current form picture that suggests Fonseca flips it here.
This feels like a match Shelton controls throughout. Fonseca will have his moments, probably a tight second set, but Shelton wins this.
Prediction: Shelton in 3
Luciano Darderi vs Brandon Nakashima
Head-to-head: Darderi 1-1 Nakashima
All square between these two, so whoever takes this is breaking the tie. Darderi made his name primarily on clay, and while he's been pushing his ranking up through 2024, hard courts haven't always brought out the best in him. Nakashima, on the other hand, is a hard-court natural, very good at keeping the ball deep and making players uncomfortable from the baseline, and this surface suits him well.
I think Nakashima edges this one out over three sets, but don't sleep on Darderi making it uncomfortable.
Prediction: Nakashima in 3
Arthur Fils vs Cameron Norrie
Head-to-head: Fils 1-0 Norrie
Norrie's ranking has slipped to 37 and he hasn't recaptured the form that made him a top-ten player a couple of years ago, and Fils at 24 in the world is the better player right now by a fair margin. Hard to see this being competitive at all. Fils is aggressive, takes the ball early, and has the firepower to make hard-court matches short and brutal when he's on. That said, Norrie will grind, but grinding only works if the other guy is making errors, and Fils isn't the type.
Prediction: Fils in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Yannick Legare/ZUMA Press Wire