Newport R2 previews and predictions: Baghdatis vs. Baker, Young vs. Kozlov

Brian Baker will hope to keep his momentum going in Newport on Wednesday, but he has a tough second-rounder on his hands against Marcos Baghdatis. Donald Young and Stefan Kozlov are also aiming for a quarterfinal spot.

(Q) Brian Baker vs. (4) Marcos Baghdatis

Baker, who has endured 11 surgeries throughout his professional career, picked up his first ATP-level victory since Cincinnati in 2013 to earn a place in the second round of the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships. The 31-year-old American had to qualify just to get into the main draw and he parlayed that success into a 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 defeat of compatriot Austin Krajicek on Tuesday. Baker’s latest comeback from another injury had previous featured six consecutive losses in 2016–most recently to eventual quarterfinalist Marin Cilic in the Wimbledon first round.

Up next for the world No. 546 on Wednesday is Baghdatis, whom he has never faced. The 43rd-ranked Cypriot snagged an opening-round bye as the fourth seed, so he has played zero matches this week whereas his opponent has already scored three wins. Baghdatis is coming off a European grass-court swing that saw him reach quarterfinals in Halle and Nottingham before falling to Isner in round one at the All-England Club. A steep step up in competition for Baker should result in the sentimental favorite’s run coming to an end.

Pick: Baghdatis in 2

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(WC) Stefan Kozlov vs. (8) Donald Young

Somewhat surprisingly, Young and Kozlov have never gone head-to-head at any of the multitude of American-based Challenger events that they have found themselves in at the same time. It is no surprise, of course, that the two Americans have not squared off at the ATP level because Kozlov is just now wading into those waters at 18 years old. The world No. 169 got a wild card into Newport and made the most of it by hammering Benjamin Becker 6-1, 6-2 on Tuesday. One day earlier, Young made similarly quick work of Jared Donaldson via a 6-1, 6-3 decision.

Young is gradually building confidence in time for what is usually his favorite part of the season, the summer hard-court swing in the United States. The world No. 61 advanced one round at Wimbledon (beat Leonardo Mayer, lost to Lucas Pouille) and is a decent 9-12 at the ATP level for his 2016 campaign. Kozlov owns just three career victories on the main tour and asking him to string together back-to-back wins by upsetting a relatively in-form Young is probably too much to ask.