A few first-round picks from the Citi Open in Washington today, with temperatures sitting around 82°F and a decent chance of afternoon rain keeping things interesting. The De Minaur vs Tsitsipas match alone is worth tuning in for, and we've got thoughts on all three. Who do you think gets through?
Citi Open Predictions
Taylor Fritz vs Zizou Bergs
Head-to-head: Fritz 1-0 Bergs
Fritz is one of the better hard-court Americans on tour and Washington is basically a home game for him. Bergs is a solid player but his game is built for slower conditions and he's never been the kind of guy who hurts you on a fast hard court. Fritz should handle the pace of this surface much better and close it out without too much drama, all things considered.
That said, Bergs is ranked inside the top 35 for a reason and Fritz hasn't always been the most reliable in early rounds. I think this one goes three, but Fritz gets there.
Prediction: Fritz in 3
Arthur Fils vs Rafael Jodar
Head-to-head: Fils 1-0 Jodar
On paper Fils is the higher-ranked player and the more exciting one to watch, but Jodar is actually ranked just two spots below him and plays a grinding, consistent brand of hard-court tennis that can frustrate players who want to play fast and loose. Fils can be streaky and if his first serve isn't firing he tends to give away cheap points in bunches.
Jodar wins this one.
Prediction: Jodar in 3
Alex De Minaur vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
Head-to-head: Minaur 2-14 Tsitsipas
That head-to-head is pretty brutal. Tsitsipas has owned this matchup across basically every surface and situation, and for years De Minaur just couldn't solve him. But Tsitsipas has fallen to 51 in the world, a steep drop for someone who was once a top-three fixture, and is clearly not the same player he was at his peak, while De Minaur has quietly become one of the five best players on the planet. The ranking gap tells the story now, even if the H2H still gives Tsitsipas fans something to point at.
Fast hard courts suit De Minaur's movement and defensive game perfectly and Tsitsipas has looked shaky in his recent results. De Minaur in three.
Prediction: Minaur in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Kyle Gustafson/ZUMA Press Wire