An all-American clash pits Michael Russell against Sam Querrey on Monday in Delray Beach. Alexandr Dolgopolov and Ivan Dodig are also in action.
Michael Russell vs. (3) Sam Querrey
Rusell and Querrey will be squaring off for the fourth time in their careers at the ATP level and sixth time overall when they clash in the first round of the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships on Monday. Querrey has won all five of their previous encounters, including most recently last spring at the Sarasota Challenger. They last faced each other on the ATP stage three years ago at the Canada Masters, where Querrey pulled out a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory.
The 6’6” American is off to a decent start to his 2013 campaign, for which he owns a 9-4 record. Querrey, however, is hoping to right the ship after a surprising second-round Memphis loss to Marinko Matosevic. Russell had a long week in Memphis, where he got in as a lucky loser then reached the quarterfinals before falling to Denis Istomin. The 34-year-old American an even 3-3 at the ATP level this season. Russell will have a better chance against Querrey outdoors than indoors, but the favorite should still overpower his countryman.
Pick: Querrey in 2
(5) Alexandr Dolgopolov vs. Ivan Dodig
Dolgopolov also succumbed to Matosevic in Memphis, but not before advancing to the quarterfinals. The 23rd-ranked Ukrainian ousted Bjorn Phau and Rhyne Williams prior to that setback and his 2013 record now stands at 5-3.
Up next for Dolgopolov is first-ever meeting with Dodig. The 61st-ranked Croat got a tough draw in Memphis and lost to top-seeded countryman Marin Cilic in three sets. Dodig is just 4-6 for the year, but he has two solid results–a third-round showing at the Australian Open and a quarterfinal appearance in Zagreb. This could go either way with Dolgopolov not exactly in overwhelming form at the moment.
Pick: Dodig in 3
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