As usual, the Houston ATP 250 will have a distinct American flavor on Tuesday. Brandon Nakashima and Martin Damm are going head-to-head, while Alex Michelsen kicks off his week against Coleman Wong.
Martin Damm vs. (5) Brandon Nakashima
In two appearances at the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship, Nakashima has reached the quarterfinals (2024) and the semis (2025). The 33rd-ranked American already has a final (Brisbane) and a semifinal (Acapulco) to his credit this season, so he is playing well and looks poised for more success in Houston. Up first for Nakashima on Tuesday is Damm, whom the fifth seed has never faced. Damm brings a massive serve to the table, but the 22-year-old is a clay-court novice and his game does not figure to be particularly effective on this surface.
Pick: Nakashima in 2
(7) Alex Michelsen vs. Coleman Wong
Michelsen and Wong will also be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers on Tuesday. Although Michelsen is coming off back-to-back fourth-round efforts in Indian Wells and Miami, this marks the start of his least favorite time of year — clay. The 21-year-old American is not entirely hopeless on the red stuff, but it is certainly his worst surface. Wong does not have much dirt experience, either, but his game should actually work pretty well on it. The world No. 124 from Hong Kong has enjoyed some ATP-level success this season (quarterfinals in Hong Kong and Delray Beach), so an upset is well within the realm of possibility.
Pick: Wong in 3
WWW?
Didn’t Alex win Estoril last year? I’l take the American in straights.
he did. but that’s a Challenger. The only good player he beat was Kecmanovic (not exactly a great clay-court result).
Nakashima in 2.
A real head scratching pick there to take Wong over Michelsen right now, no one in their right mind would do it, Michelsen went a couple of rounds here last year, so has experience, he’s playing well right now, he’s a big fav. here, Wong’s in poor form, no reason not to pick him, Michelsen in 2, 7-5, 6-3.
Be the first man from Hong Kong to wi a match here im sure.
Just as ZZZ first Chinese man to same.
Doesnt make sense .Most Americans have clay as worst surface, yet they dominate here.
Yeah, the South Americans that play it don’t have too much success, maybe just aren’t used to the particular brown or maroon surface, I mean it’s not like it’s really played on anywhere else.
Result: Nakashima 7-6(0), 6-2
Result: Michelsen 6-4, 6-2
LFG…chupelo Rick X-D
well done