Three qualifying final picks from Shanghai today, with a spot in the main draw on the line for each of these guys. All close on paper, so let's get into it.
Shanghai Masters Predictions
Chak Lam Coleman Wong vs Lloyd Harris
Head-to-head: First meeting
Harris has had a rough stretch since his shoulder issues a few years back, but at his best he's a big server with a serious forehand and that still shows up on hard courts. Wong is a solid player and the home crowd will give him something, but Harris's weapons feel like too much to handle at this level.
This one could easily go three sets, and I wouldn't be shocked if Wong takes one, but Harris should have enough to get through here, all things considered.
Prediction: Harris in 3
Kyrian Jacquet vs Rei Sakamoto
Head-to-head: First meeting
Jacquet is the higher-ranked player by a decent margin and has been a consistent presence around the top 80 for a while now. Sakamoto is an interesting player, but the ranking gap is real and hard courts aren't where he does his best work. Hard to see this being competitive at all.
Prediction: Jacquet in 3
Michael Zheng vs Nicolas Mejia
Head-to-head: Zheng 1-0 Mejia
Zheng leads the head-to-head and has a ranking advantage on top of that, so he comes in as a clear favorite. Mejia is a clay specialist at heart and hard courts make life harder for him, especially against a player who's already beaten him before and isn't going to let him settle into a rhythm. That said, qualifying finals are always tight and Mejia won't just hand it over.
I think Zheng gets it done in three, even if it takes a while.
Prediction: Zheng in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Ellan Mad/Nexpher Images via ZUMA Press Wire