First-round action in Eastbourne will wrap up on Tuesday, when Julien Benneteau goes up against Yen-Hsun Lu. Donald Young and James Ward are also bidding for a place in the last 32.
Julien Benneteau vs. Yen-Hsun Lu
Benneteau and Lu will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers when they do battle in round one of the Aegon International on Tuesday. There only previous encounter also came in Eastbourne, where Lu survived a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(4) first-round thriller in 2012. Chinese Taipei’s top player is stellar on grass, with a Wimbledon quarterfinal performance to his credit in 2010. Lu is coming off a quarterfinal showing in Halle, but he withdrew prior to a date with Roger Federer because of a back problem.
The week before a Grand Slam with a traditionally mediocre field is a good opportunity for Benneteau to finally bag his first career ATP title. The 47th-ranked Frenchman, however, cannot look past his opener–only in part due to having a tough opponent. Benneteau has not won an ATP-level match since Monte-Carlo and he lost in the Queen’s Club first round last week to unheralded Dominican Victor Estrella Burgos. All things being equal, Lu would have a relatively clear edge in this one. But as a result of the world No. 45’s physical issues, Benneteau has to like his chances.
Pick: Benneteau in 3
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Donald Young vs. (WC) James Ward
Young and Ward will be squaring off for the first time in their careers a few months after an initial meeting was expected by many to take place. The two competitors were set for a fifth Davis Cup rubber between the United States and Great Britain, but Ward stunned Sam Querrey on the first day of action and that allowed Andy Murray to win the clincher in the fourth rubber. For Ward, that was the highlight of his year. The 155th-ranked Brit has just two other ATP-level wins in 2013 and only 19 during his professional life.
More experienced than Ward in both good and bad times, Young seems to be trending upwards again. The 24-year-old American registers at a respectable 69th in the world thanks in part to a recent third-round finish at Roland Garros. Young most prefers hard courts, but his game can work about just about any surface. Ward, on the other hand, would definitely choose grass at any opportunity and he should also benefit from playing at home in London.
Pick: Ward in 3
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I like Benneteau in 3, and Donald Y in 3 as well (he’s playing MUCH better than I ever thought he would!)