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By Ricky Dimon
On the heels of Indian Wells and Miami, three extra Masters 1000 occasions in Monte-Carlo, Madrid, and Rome will quickly be upon us. However the clay-court swing as an entire is already right here. It begins in Houston and Marrakech, the place there are comparatively sturdy fields by ATP 250 requirements. Among the many gamers in motion this week are Taylor Fritz, Reilly Opelka, John Isner, Nick Kyrios, and Felix Auger-Aliassime.
U.S. Males’s Clay Court docket Championship
The place: Houston, Tex.
Prize Cash: $594,950
Prime seed: Taylor Fritz
2019 champion: Cristian Garin
The ATP Tour is aware of a factor or two about imbalanced attracts in 2022 because of Novak Djokovic’s incapability to withdraw in a well timed method. Houston can be a part of the membership of tournaments through which the No. 1 seed withdrew, though on this case no one is guilty. Casper Ruud most likely didn’t count on to be within the Miami remaining. However he was, so getting proper again in motion at a 250 match is mindless. Thus the Norwegian is out and will probably be changed by Michael Mmoh, who goes straight via to the second spherical as a fortunate loser. Opelka, Kyrgios, and Tommy Paul will probably be amongst these taking benefit within the prime half of the bracket. Of that trio, Paul is the one with the mixture of each stellar present type and clay-court functionality.
A powerful American contingent additionally makes up the underside half, which is house to Fritz, Isner, Frances Tiafoe, and Jack Sock. One of many extra intriguing first-round contests pits Sock towards clay-court specialist Cristian Garin, however Garin is struggling mightily in the intervening time. Each Fritz and Tiafoe are first rate sufficient on the pink stuff, so that they may very well be on track for a semifinal showdown.
Quarterfinal picks: Tommy Paul over Daniel Elahi Galan, Reilly Opelka over Jenson Brooksby, Frances Tiafoe over John Isner, and Taylor Fritz over Jack Sock
Semifinals: Paul over Opelka and Fritz over Tiafoe
Remaining: Paul over Fritz
Grand Prix Hassan II
The place: Marrakech, Morocco
Prize cash: 534,555 Euros
Prime seed: Felix Auger-Aliassime
2019 champion: Benoit Paire (not taking part in)
The Marrakech subject pales compared to that of Houston, however not less than it has Felix Auger-Aliassime. On paper the Canadian is a transparent title favourite, however has by no means been at his greatest on clay and he’s coming off dreadful ends in Indian Wells and Miami. Auger-Aliassime’s draw isn’t a very good one, both. Alex Molcan can be a troublesome second-round opponent and potential quarterfinal foe Botic Van de Zandschulp simply received their matchup in Indian Wells. Achieved clay-courters like Albert Ramos-Vinolas, Laslo Djere, and Lorenzo Musetti may additionally contend for a remaining spot.
Partly as a result of Dan Evans is the No. 2 seed, the underside half of the bracket is nowhere close to as sturdy. It’s additionally not as deep. Don’t be shocked if an unseeded floater like Federico Coria, Pablo Andujar, or Richard Gasquet capitalizes on the chance. Even David Goffin has an opportunity to get again on observe. All in all, that is an unspectacular 250 occasion sandwiched in between Masters 1000 tournaments; completely something may occur.
Quarterfinal picks: Felix Auger-Aliassime over Botic Van de Zandschulp, Albert Ramos-Vinolas over Jiri Vesely, Federico Coria over Richard Gasquet, and Federico Delbonis over Pablo Andujar
Semifinals: Ramos-Vinolas over Auger-Aliassime and Delbonis over Coria
Remaining: Ramos-Vinolas over Delbonis
Ricky contributes to10sballs.com and likewise maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You possibly can comply with him on twitter at @Dimonator.
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