Familiar foes Stefanos Tsitsipas and Frances Tiafoe will face each other again during Tokyo Olympics second-round action on Tuesday. Aslan Karatsev and Jeremy Chardy are also taking the court.
Frances Tiafoe vs. (3) Stefanos Tsitsipas
Tsitsipas and Tiafoe will be squaring off for the fourth time in their careers and for the second time in Tokyo when they clash in round two of the Olympics on Tuesday. Their first-ever encounter came in qualifying at the 2017 Japan Open, where Tsitsipas prevailed 6-4, 6-2. The Greek also got the job done at the 2018 NextGen ATP Finals, but Tiafoe just recently pulled off a 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 upset in the Wimbledon first round.
This is without question a danger match for Tsitsipas, and not only because of what transpired at the All-England Club. Since losing the French Open final to Novak Djokovic in five sets, the world No. 4 is just 2-2. He managed to beat Philipp Kohlschreiber on Sunday, but a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 scoreline was unspectacular. Tiafoe, who generally thrives when playing with the USA glad on his shirt, erased Soonwoo Kwon 6-3, 6-2 in the opening round. Tsitsipas should get the win with his motivation level presumably restored by such an important event, but it isn’t going to be easy.
Pick: Tsitsipas in 3
(11) Aslan Karatsev vs. Jeremy Chardy
Karatsev and Chardy also squared off in the Wimbledon first round will now be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers. Chardy is sweeping the head-to-head series 2-0 and is 5-0 in total sets following his 7-6(4), 7-6(6), 6-3 success at the championships. The Frenchman also cruised 6-4, 6-0 in 2019 Shanghai qualifying.
Although Karatsev has been the breakout star of 2021, he has cooled off in a big way since the first few months of the season. A victory over Tommy Paul in the Olympics first round does not really guarantee that the Russian is back on track, because Paul has been hurt and was rusty. A resurgent Chardy has won 17 matches on the main tour this year, including over Marcelo Tomas Barrios Vera in straight sets on Sunday. The clay and grass swings were unspectacular for him, but he has always been at his best on hard courts. This is a good opportunity for the world No. 68 to pull off another upset.
Pick: Chardy in 2
WWW?
Nole looked sharp against big JL Struff. It was a clean, fast 2 sets. I doubt it was easy. He came out prepared to battle the big server – 14 aces to Struff’s paltry 3. His focus was keen from the start. There was no need to hide or put my blinders on!
https://www.flashscore.com/match/lKPGHBQ8/#match-summary/match-statistics/0
I hope Tiafoe and Chardy win. 🤞🏼
Got up at 2 am to watch some Olympic tennis. It was worth it!
Karatsev is back on his favorite surface – hard-courts, so no reason why he can’t continue where he left off. Playing for Russia adds a different element as well.
Tiafoe in the upset…in 3…and Karasetv in a tough 3.
Medvedev 2-0 looks good now that he has a match under his belt.
Khachanov should win 2-0 also. I thought his Wimbledon form was close to career best.