A few second-round picks from the Boss Open today, and honestly, the grass in Stuttgart has a way of scrambling the expected order of things. We've got a couple of results here that might raise some eyebrows, so let's get into it.
Boss Open Predictions
Jiri Lehecka vs James Duckworth
Head-to-head: First meeting
Lehecka is the higher-ranked player and has had some good moments on tour, but grass is a different story. Duckworth has spent years grinding on the grass-court circuit and is genuinely comfortable on this surface in a way a lot of players just aren't. His serve and flat ball-striking are well-suited to these conditions and first meetings on grass tend to favor the player who knows the surface better.
Duckworth in 3.
Prediction: Duckworth in 3
Ben Shelton vs Marcos Giron
Head-to-head: Shelton 2-1 Giron
Shelton is the big name here and the higher seed, but his game hasn't clicked the way you'd want going into the grass season, and Giron has been quietly solid for a while now. The serve from Shelton is always a weapon on this surface, but Giron took him to three sets in their most recent meeting and I feel like the pattern holds again here. Shelton can blow through matches when everything is firing, but when it isn't, players like Giron make him work for every point.
Prediction: Giron in 3
Rinky Hijikata vs Frances Tiafoe
Head-to-head: Hijikata 1-3 Tiafoe
Tiafoe's game actually translates well to grass. He's aggressive enough off the ground and his net presence adds a whole other dimension on this surface. That said, Hijikata grabbed one win in their previous meetings, so he's not without a chance, but Tiafoe at his best on grass is a tough ask for anyone ranked outside the top 100. Hard to see this being competitive at all, though it might take three sets to settle it.
Prediction: Tiafoe in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Oscar J. Barroso/AFP7 via ZUMA Press Wire