ATP tennis news – Citi open in Washington, D.C. and Abierto de Tenis Mifel in Los Cabos – 10sBalls.com • TennisBalls.com

By Ricky Dimon

The post-Wimbledon clay-court tournaments have mercifully come to an finish and now it’s time for the hard-court buildup to the U.S. Open to start in earnest. Curiously, Washington, D.C. and Los Cabos are being held throughout the identical week this yr. That may make for a busy and entertaining seven-day stretch of tennis, one that may embody Daniil Medvedev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Andrey Rublev, Hubert Hurkacz, Nick Kyrgios and Andy Murray.

Citi Open

The place: Washington, D.C.
Factors: 500
Prime seed: Andrey Rublev
2021 champion: Jannik Sinner (not taking part in)

As traditional, the Washington, D.C. draw is loaded as a number of the finest gamers on the earth begin gearing up for the U.S. Open. Prime three seeds Rublev, Hurkacz, and Taylor Fritz are all in Nitto ATP Finals rivalry and all three have a practical—albeit outdoors—likelihood on the season’s fourth and remaining main particularly if Novak Djokovic is unable to play. For now, although, they’re centered on Washington, D.C. Rublev and Fritz are on a collision course for the semifinals within the prime half of the draw, however Rublev’s second match may come in opposition to Newport champion Maxime Cressy. Fritz is more likely to face both Alex de Minaur, Karen Khachanov, or Jenson Brooksby within the quarterfinals. De Minaur vs. Brooksby in spherical two can be a rematch of Sunday’s Atlanta remaining.

With Kyrigos, Murray, Sebastian Korda, Emil Ruusuvuori, and Ilya Ivashka all unseeded, the underside half of the bracket is stacked. Tommy Paul might have to fulfill Kyrgios proper off the bat, whereas Aslan Karatsev is Murray’s nearest seed. That may be a favorable draw for Murray, who would even have a good shot in opposition to Hurkacz in spherical three. Korda and Ivashka are going head-to-head within the opening spherical and the winner can have likelihood to succeed in no less than the quarters. Frances Tiafoe, who reached the Atlanta semis together with Ivashka and is from the D.C. space, can also be a contender together with Grigor Dimitrov and Botic van de Zandschulp.

Quarterfinal picks: David Goffin over Denis Shapovalov, Taylor Fritz over Alex de Minaur, Nick Kyrgios over Botic van de Zandschulp, and Andy Murray over Ilya Ivashka

Semifinals: Fritz over Goffin and Kyrgios over Murray

Ultimate: Fritz over Kyrgios

Abierto de Tenis Mifel

The place: Los Cabos, Mexico
Factors: 250
Prime seed: Daniil Medvedev
Defending champion: Cameron Norrie

Medvedev is again after being banned from Wimbledon and he’s prepared for his favourite time of yr. These months marked his true breakthrough on tour in 2019, when he superior to finals in seven consecutive tournaments—beginning with Washington, D.C. and together with the U.S. Open. Medvedev, who will quickly be defending his 2021 U.S. Open title, is taking his skills to Los Cabos this time round. His debut at this occasion ought to get off to a routine begin in what’s an in any other case weak part of the draw. Issues may get tough within the semis, the place Miomir Kecmanovic and Brandon Nakashima are potential opponents.

Auger-Aliassime will doubtless have a more durable time within the backside half. The second-seeded Canadian may meet Aussies John Millman and Thanasi Kokkinakis early within the week earlier than probably operating into Wimbledon semifinalist Cameron Norrie within the final 4. Norrie maybe has the best draw of anybody till the weekend, which is all of the extra purpose to love the Brit’s possibilities of reaching the ultimate if not even taking the title.

Quarterfinal picks: Daniil Medvedev over Ricardas Berankis, Brandon Nakashima over Miomir Kecmanovic, Cameron Norrie over Jason Kubler, and Felix Auger-Aliassime over Thanasi Kokkinakis

Semifinals: Medvedev over Nakashima and Norrie over Auger-Aliassime

Ultimate: Medvedev over Norrie

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and in addition maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You possibly can comply with him on twitter at @Dimonator.