Three quarter-final picks from Washington today, with temperatures pushing toward 90°F under clear skies, and some genuinely interesting matchups to get through. Who do you think makes it to the semis?
Citi Open Predictions
Alejandro Tabilo vs Ben Shelton
Head-to-head: First meeting
Shelton is the hometown favorite here and he's been playing some of his best tennis on this surface lately. Hard courts suit his big serve and aggressive baseline game far better than clay ever has and Washington specifically feels like a tournament built for him.
Tabilo is no pushover at #30 in the world, but this is a tough draw for him. Shelton's serve alone is going to cause serious problems, and I think the crowd energy tips it in the third if it gets there.
Prediction: Shelton in 3
Rafael Jodar vs Lorenzo Musetti
Head-to-head: First meeting
Musetti has been one of the more exciting players on tour this year, but hard courts have always been his least convincing surface. Jodar, ranked #24, has quietly put together a solid season and comes in with real confidence. First meetings are always a bit of a coin flip, but I feel like the conditions here, fast and hot, suit Jodar's more direct game better than Musetti's touch-heavy style, all things considered.
Prediction: Jodar in 3
Alex De Minaur vs Brandon Nakashima
Head-to-head: Nakashima leads 1-0
De Minaur is the higher-ranked player and generally one of the most reliable performers on hard courts, but Nakashima has already beaten him once and that matters. That said, that previous win gives Nakashima a blueprint, and playing at home in Washington adds another layer. De Minaur hasn't been at his sharpest recently either.
Hard to see De Minaur turning this around.
Prediction: Nakashima in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Debby Wong/ZUMA Press Wire