A blockbuster night-session lineup in Atlanta is set for Wednesday, when a couple of compatriots collide in round two. Americans Chris Eubanks and Brandon Nakashima are squaring off, while Alex de Minaur awaits fellow Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis.
(5) Chris Eubanks vs. Brandon Nakashima
Eubanks and Nakashima will be squaring off for the fourth time in their careers and for the first time in an ATP main draw when they clash in round two of the Atlanta Open on Wednesday night. All three of their previous meetings have come on American hard courts; they split a pair of Challenger contests in 2019 before Nakashima prevailed 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4 in 2021 Miami qualifying.
Both players have improved drastically since those encounters, but right now it is Eubanks who is soaring. The Atlanta native and Georgia Tech product recently captured his first ATP title in Mallorca and then made a run to the Wimbledon quarterfinals. Eubanks opened in front of his home crowd on Tuesday with a 6-2, 6-4 defeat of Andres Martin. Nakashima’s 2021 and 2022 rise included a runner-up showing in Atlanta two years ago, but this season he is just 8-12 at the ATP level even after beating Max Purcell 6-3, 7-6(5) on Tuesday. Conditions are perfect Eubanks and he owns a big edge in current form, so this will likely be one-way traffic for the most part.
Pick: Eubanks in 2
Thanasi Kokkinakis vs. (2) Alex de Minaur
De Minaur and Kokkinakis will be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers on Tuesday night. Kokkinakis just barely managed to earn his place in this matchup, as he came back from a 4-0 deficit in the final-set tiebreaker to take down Gael Monfils 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(5) on Monday. It was a much-needed victory for the world No. 86, who had not won a match at the ATP level since reaching the third round at Roland Garros.
It doesn’t get any easier for Kokkinakis, as De Minaur has lifted the Atlanta trophy in each of his last two trips to this tournament. The No. 2 seed heads into his latest title defense in decent enough form, as he finished runner-up to Carlos Alcaraz at Queen’s Club but then got a bad draw at Wimbledon (lost to Matteo Berrettini in round two). Although this showdown should be high on entertainment value, it probably won’t go past two sets.
Pick: De Minaur in 2
who ya got?
Ga Tech grad in 3; Demon in 2.