The Sunshine Double is now up to now, so it’s time for the six-week leadup to Roland Garros. Earlier than three Masters 1000 tournaments take middle stage, a trio of ATP 250s are on this week’s schedule. The clay-court season begins in Houston, Marrakech, and Bucharest, with Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, and Matteo Berrettini amongst these taking the court docket.
Listed below are my picks. U.S. Males’s Clay Court docket Championship
The place: Houston, Texas Prize Cash: $700,045 High seed: Ben SheltonDefending champion: Jenson Brooksby
Draw evaluation: As regular, the Houston area is robust — at the very least by 250-point requirements and positively in comparison with Marrakech and Bucharest. Shelton, Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, and Learner Tien have opening byes, whereas Alex Michelsen and Jenson Brooksby are among the many different seeded gamers. The potential quarterfinal lineup is particularly intriguing: Shelton vs. Brooksby, Tien vs. Brandon Nakashima, Paul vs. Tomas Martin Etcheverry, and Tiafoe vs. Michelsen. However they received’t be wanting forward as a result of the depth — and the unseeded contingent — is spectacular.
Quarterfinal picks: Ben Shelton over Thiago Agustin Tirante, Brandon Nakashima over Learner Tien, Tommy Paul over Tomas Martin Etcheverry, and Frances Tiafoe over Coleman Wong
Semifinals: Nakashima over Shelton and Paul over Tiafoe
Closing: Paul over Nakashima
Grand Prix Hassan II
The place: Marrakech, Morocco Prize cash: 612,620 Euros High seed: Luciano DarderiDefending champion: Luciano Darderi
Draw evaluation: Darderi is a top-20 participant for one cause and one cause solely: dominance at clay-court ATP 250s. He has captured 5 titles in his profession, all the 250-point selection and all on the sluggish stuff Final 12 months Darderi triumphed at this similar Marrakech event and finally lifted two extra trophies in Bastad and Umag. The highest seed’s draw this week is favorable, though potential quarterfinal opponent Yannick Hanfmann could be harmful on clay. Within the backside half, unseeded entrants corresponding to Berrettini, Rafael Jodar, and Hamad Medjedovic might make noise.
Quarterfinal picks: Luciano Darderi over Yannick Hanfmann, Corentin Moutet over Juan Manuel Cerundolo, Rafael Jodar over Hamad Medjedovic, and Matteo Berrettini over Hugo Gaston
Semifinals: Darderi over Moutet and Berrettini over Jodar
Closing: Darderi over Berrettini
Tiriac Open
The place: Bucharest, Romania Prize cash: 612,620 Euros High seed: Sebastian Baez Defending champion: Marton Fucsovics
Draw evaluation: Gabriel Diallo and Adrian Mannarino are the highest two seeds?!?! This seems to be extra like a Challenger than an ATP-level event. Neither Diallo nor Mannarino is nice on clay, making this title much more up for grabs. The Frenchman is particularly hopeless on filth, so he’ll doubtless lose instantly — opening the door for Sebastian Baez to achieve at the very least the semis. The highest half seems to be harder on paper, as Diallo is joined by Nuno Borges, Mariano Navone, and Botic van de Zandschulp.
Quarterfinal picks: Mariano Navone over Gabriel Diallo, Nuno Borges over Botic van de Zandschulp, Fabian Marozsan over Pedro Martinez, and Sebastian Baez over Otto Virtanen
Semifinals: Navone over Borges and Baez over Marozsan
Closing: Baez over Navone
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and likewise maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter at @Dimonator.
