Alexandr Dolgopolov and Fernando Verdasco are set for a blockbuster first-round showdown on Monday in Eastbourne. Paul-Henri Mathieu and Ryan Harrison are also in action as they prepare for Wimbledon.
Fernando Verdasco vs. (6) Alexandr Dolgopolov
Verdasco is still a horrendous 7-11 for his 2013 campaign heading into his grass-court debut at the Aegon International on Monday. That being said, the 58th-ranked Spaniard is actually starting to play decent tennis. He has advanced at least one round in each of his last three tournaments and all of his losses in that span went the distance—including a 7-6(3), 6-1, 3-6, 5-7, 8-6 setback against Janko Tipsarevic at Roland Garros.
With their second-ever encounter on the horizon, it is Dolgopolov who has been even worse of late. Not counting walkovers, the Ukrainian has won back-to-back matches at ATP tournaments only once since Memphis in February. He is coming off a second-round showing at Queen’s Club, where he was ousted by Benjamin Becker. If nothing else, this should at least be more entertaining than when they faced each other at the 2012 Rome Masters, where Dolgopolov retired after losing the first set 6-0.
Pick: Verdasco in 3
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(Q) Ryan Harrison vs. Paul-Henri Mathieu
Harrison and Mathieu will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers and for the second time in two months when they meet again on Monday. Their only previous encounter came on the clay courts of Nice just a few weeks ago, when Mathieu prevailed 6-4, 6-4. The Frenchman does not have home-court advantage this time around, and he cannot be feeling good about his game. He is a mere 2-11 at the ATP level this season after losing his Queen’s Club opener in straight sets to Aljaz Bedene.
Mathieu’s opponent, on the other hand, has some momentum going. Harrison qualified for the Eastbourne main draw over the weekend with a trio of straight-set victories. The 21-year-old American, who played well at the French Open, is looking to bounce back from first-round losses at the Nottingham Challenger and at Queen’s Club. With three wins already under his belt and an all-court game that can work well on grass, Harrison will have a good chance of exacting some revenge on Mathieu.
Pick: Harrison in 3
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