Nicolas Almagro is set for a blockbuster second-round clash with Gael Monfils on Wednesday in Houston. John Isner and Jack Sock are also bidding for a spot in the quarterfinals.
(1) Nicolas Almagro vs. Gael Monfils
Almagro and Monfils will be going head-to-head for the fifth time in their careers when they collide in round two of the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship on Wednesday afternoon. They have split their four previous meetings, but Almagro has won both of their clay-court encounters in straight sets (Barcelona 2006 and Acapulco 2009).
The surface edge clearly goes to Almagro, and so does current form. Houston’s No. 1 seed is 14-6 for the year, which includes a quarterfinal at the Australian Open, a semifinal in Acapulco, and recent fourth-round finish in Miami. Monfils, on the other hand, has played sparingly in 2013 due to recurring knee problems. The 103rd-ranked Frenchman is on the match court for the first time since early February and he ended a three-match losing streak by dismissing James Blake 7-6(5), 7-5 on Monday night.
Monfils obviously has the talent to make this one competitive and even pull off the upset, but he will have to play considerably long points against Almagro on clay and his rust will not help him do that successfully. The 12th-ranked Spaniard should be able to take advantage of a less-than-100-percent opponent.
Pick: Almagro in 2
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(5) John Isner vs. (WC) Jack Sock
Isner and Sock will be squaring off for the second time in their careers on Wednesday in Houston. Their only previous meeting came last summer on the hard courts of Atlanta, where Isner got the job done 7-6(7), 6-4.
Sock may have a better chance at the upset this time around, if only because his opponent is far from his best at the moment. Isner is an even 8-8 for his 2013 campaign and he has plunged to No. 23 in the world. The 6’9” American had been 1-3 since the start of Indian Wells until he got past countryman Ryan Harrison 7-6(4), 6-4 on Tuesday night. Sock, meanwhile, has earned four of his 10 career ATP match victories this season. The 20-year-old American, who stunned Milos Raonic on his way to the Memphis quarterfinals two months ago, ousted Bradley Klahn 7-6(3), 6-3 in his Houston opener.
Isner is by no means a clay-court specialist, but he has to be feeling good on this surface after plenty of success last year and a relatively solid performance against Harrison. Sock, on the other hand, is far less comfortable on the slow stuff.
Pick: Isner in 2
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