Tommy Haas is suddenly the only remaining seed in the bottom half of the Memphis draw. He is joined in action on Thursday by Lleyton Hewitt and Alexandr Dolgopolov.
(4) Tommy Haas vs. Feliciano Lopez
It will be their first head-to-head meeting in nine years when Haas and Lopez do battle in the second round of the U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships on Thursday. They have faced each other on two previous occasions; Haas prevailed 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 at the 2002 French Open and 6-3, 6-4 two seasons later in Halle.
Both players–especially Haas–are still going strong in their 30s. The 34-year-old German registers at an impressive 18th in the world and he is coming off a runner-up showing in San Jose last weekend. Haas improved to 5-3 for his 2013 campaign by dismissing Evgeny Donskoy in straight sets on Wednesday. Lopez, 31, has also dealt with some injury troubles and he comes in at No. 47 in the rankings. The Spaniard is an even 3-3 for the season after battling past another German, Benjamin Becker, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Tuesday. Lopez has not exceeded the second round in any event this year, so a considerable advantage in current form goes to Haas. An indoor hard court, however, gives the underdog a chance.
Pick: Haas in 2
Lleyton Hewitt vs. Denis Istomin
Istomin and Hewitt will be squaring off for the fourth time in their careers and for the second time this season when they clash on Thursday in Memphis. Hewitt leads the head-to-head series 2-1, but Istomin prevailed 7-5, 7-5 last month in Brisbane. The Aussie’s two victories came at the 2008 Australian Open and in a five-setter at Roland Garros in 2010.
Both players are in decent form to begin their 2013 campaigns. Hewitt is no longer the player he once was, but the world No. 107 is 4-3 for the year after outlasting Yen-Hsun Lu 2-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 in round one. Istomin, already seeking his fourth quarterfinal of the season, opened on Tuesday night with a 6-4, 6-3 upset of third-seeded John Isner. In a matchup between the Uzbek’s offense against the veteran’s counter-punching, Istomin should have a slight edge on an indoor hard court.
Pick: Istomin in 3
(Q) Rhyne Williams vs. (7) Alexandr Dolgopolov
Williams will look to continue his hot streak when he takes the court on Thursday in Memphis. The former University of Tennessee star has won eight matches in a row–five to take the Dallas Challenger title, two more in Memphis qualifying, and another when he ousted Steve Johnson 7-6(4), 6-4 on Monday. It was the first career ATP-level victory for Williams, who is up to No. 159 in the world and climbing.
Dolgopolov, however, will be a significant step up in competition. The talented Ukrainian comes in at No. 23 in the world, good for the No. 7 seed this week. He is a modest 4-2 for his 2013 campaign after taking care of Bjorn Phau in straight sets on Thursday. Dolgopolov isn’t exactly on fire, but Williams may not be quite ready for this kind of opponent.
Pick: Dolgopolov in 3
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