First-round action in Atlanta will continue on Tuesday with a showdown between Kyle Edmund and Marcos Baghdatis. Familiar foes Donald Young and Tim Smyczek are also set to face each other yet again.
Marcos Baghdatis vs. (5) Kyle Edmund
Edmund and Baghdatis will be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers when they clash in round one of the BB&T Atlanta Open on Tuesday. Baghdatis is a former runner-up of this event (2015), but he comes in unseeded this time around at No. 75 in the world. The 32-year-old Cypriot is just 8-10 in 2017, but he compiled a decent 4-2 record in his last two grass-court tournaments–a semifinal showing in Antalya and a second-round performance at Wimbledon.
Making his first appearance in Atlanta as the fifth seed, Edmund has won 14 ATP-level matches this season and registers five spots off his career-high ranking at No. 45 in the world. The 22-year-old Brit reached the last 32 at the French Open but compiled a disappointing 1-3 record on grass with losses to Denis Shapovalov, Donald Young, and Gael Monfils. A return to hard courts will likely suit Edmund, who should be able to take advantage of an opponent who has retired from three matches this year–including two since mid-June.
Pick: Edmund in 3
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(6) Donald Young vs. (Q) Tim Smyczek
One of the most extensive rivalries in the second tier of tennis will add another chapter when Young and Smyczek square off on Tuesday. They have faced each other an incredible 16 times–13 at the Futures, Challenger, and ATP qualifying levels and three on the main tour. Young leads the overall head-to-head series 9-7 (1-2 at the ATP level) and they have split a pair of Atlanta meetings (Smyczek prevailed 7-5, 7-6(3) in 2013 qualifying before Young got the job done 4-6, 7-6(1), 6-3 during second-round action last summer).
Young, who lives within walking distance of the Atlanta tournament, has mostly been a disaster in his hometown. The 51st-ranked American had been a mere 1-5 before his run to the quarterfinals last year. But his 2016 performance and a stellar 2017 campaign should give him plenty of confidence. Young is 18-13 this season with consecutive fourth-round appearances in Indian Wells and Miami plus five victories on grass (before a third-round Wimbledon loss to Rafael Nadal). Smyczek is struggling down at No. 194 in the rankings and he is looking for just his second ATP-level match win in 2017. The 29-year-old did not have to do much in qualifying, as he beat world No. 1200 Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan 7-6(3), 6-3 and then got a walkover from Illya Marchenko. Current form heavily favors Young, who should be able to treat the home crowd to a convincing win.
Pick: Young in 2
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Young in three and Edmund in two
but Chung was off from a tennis standpoint and even further off from a mental standpoint
Marcos Baghdatis (Bagh) vs. (5) Kyle Edmund
BB=Over as Bagh is far more experienced and skilled than the hot headed Kyle and might take a set off kyle or push the total over with a slight push!lol
If Kyle was in top form, he would have won in 2 sets easily! Alas!, that is not the case here!lol
Bagh can win also in 2 or 3, as Kyle’s game is based on his power serve. If his serve will break down (like it happened to Escobedo and Fabbiano today, which happens when players come back to play after a long summer vacation! Both are coming after a 20 day vacation!), Bagh will simple eat a frustated Kyle for dinner!lol
Why Bagh can win today is because “Current form rules and is the king here”! Kyle has a poor 1/3 record recently on grass while Bagh has a very respectable 4/4 on grass! So, Bagh’s current form will dictate this game today besides his far superior experience on all surfaces!
Besides Bagh is the better returner than kyle. Kyle only has his power serve to help him survive. If it fails, he will fail miserably like Escobedo & Fabbiano!
But my BB=Over. Bagh can win in 2 or 3 sets also, if the bad form of Kyle continues! I don’t trust kyle now. Why should I, when he could not perform in front of his queen in London @ Wimbledon? There is no queen in Atlanta to support Kyle ie., no home crowd! Kyle has to face a ferocious & skilled tiger (Bagh means tiger in a local Indian language!lol) alone! That is scary!
(6) Donald Young vs. (Q) Tim Smyczek
BB=Going with Young ML and -1 as…
Young has the greater form on hard this season. Young has great wins over top players like Querrey, Pouille, Benoit Paire @ Indian Wells and/ Miami , over Ivo Karlovic @ Delray beach and over John Isner @ Memphis, this season!
Over can also hit here as 3 of the last 4 H2H matches went to the 3rd set! Tim will step up for this big match today, but will lose to the superior lefty power and talent of young, finally! RIP Tim (…not permanently Tim!lol, but until the next tournament!lol)!
This match can be finished by Young in 2 tight sets also if Tim’s bad form continues!
Tim will fight with 50% support from home crowd. Young as detailed in the write-up above, doesn’t perform well on his home court in Atlanta(me too! I perform when no one I know is watching me!lol). Young, probably feels the pressure more in front of his friends, relatives etc.
It can go to 3 sets also if Young has one or two of his mental lapses! Else, young can win in 2 sets also!
BB=Going with Young ML and -1. Over can hit.
BB=Going with Young ML and -1