A few picks from Washington today under clear skies and pleasant conditions, around 69°F with a high of 84°F expected later. The Citi Open hard courts should play fast and the conditions are near-perfect, so who do you think gets through?
Citi Open Predictions
Alex De Minaur vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
Head-to-head: Minaur 2-14 Tsitsipas
That H2H is one of the most lopsided records between two top players on tour, and most of those Tsitsipas wins came when he was at his best. But Tsitsipas is barely recognizable right now at ranking 51, grinding through qualifying-level draws and dealing with elbow problems that have clearly stripped something off his serve and forehand. The last time these two met, De Minaur was already the better player on paper and he's only improved since.
I think the record is more of a psychological curiosity than a real factor here. De Minaur on home-adjacent hard courts, in the form of his life, against a Tsitsipas who can barely buy a win lately. The numbers say Tsitsipas, but the tennis says otherwise.
Prediction: Minaur in 3
Taylor Fritz vs Kamil Majchrzak
Head-to-head: Fritz 1-0 Majchrzak
Fritz is playing in front of his home crowd in Washington and he's been one of the more consistent Americans on hard courts this year. Majchrzak is a decent player but ranked 72nd for a reason, and hard courts aren't exactly where he's made his name. Hard to see this being competitive at all.
Prediction: Fritz in 2
Terence Atmane vs Alejandro Tabilo
Head-to-head: First meeting
Atmane has been one of the more interesting players to watch this year and his ball-striking can trouble anyone on a fast surface, so this isn't a walkover. That said, Tabilo is 30 spots higher ranked and has been steadily building his hard-court game into something genuinely dangerous. He's become so good at absorbing pace and redirecting it and on these conditions that should work well for him.
Feel like Tabilo's consistency gets him through, but Atmane will make it interesting enough that it goes the distance, all things considered.
Prediction: Tabilo in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Kyle Gustafson/ZUMA Wire