R2 previews and predictions: Anderson vs. Tsitsipas, Cilic vs. Jaziri

Kevin Anderson and Marin Cilic are the respective No. 1 seeds in Estoril and Istanbul, but that does not mean they have easy draws. Anderson has to go up against Barcelona runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas, while Marin Cilic is running into Malek Jaziri.

Estoril Open: (1) Kevin Anderson vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas

The clay-court seasons could not be any different for Anderson and Tsitsipas heading into their first-ever meeting in Estoril on Thursday. In fact, it has been non-existent for Anderson. The eighth-ranked South African took some time off following a busy post-Australian Open hard-court stretch, during which he won the inaugural New York Open, finished runner-up in Acapulco, and advanced to quarterfinals in both Indian Wells and Miami. Anderson’s hot streak has carried him to a season record of 17-5, which also includes a final appearance in Pune.

It is safe to say that Tsitsipas in the midst of his own hot streak. The 19-year-old Greek is soaring into prominence on the ATP Tour, with 11 of his 15 career main-tour match victories having already come in 2018. His clay-court swing features a second-round showing in Monte-Carlo as a qualifier, a runner-up performance in Barcelona, and a 7-6(2), 6-3 defeat of Marrakech champion Pablo Andujar on Tuesday. This is not the matchup Anderson would want for his first foray onto clay in 2018, so the edge should go to Tsitsipas based on the surface and his scorching hot form.

Pick: Tsitsipas in 3

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Istanbul Open: (1) Marin Cilic vs. Malek Jaziri

Cilic and Jaziri will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers when they clash during second-round action in Istanbul on Thursday. Their only previous contest did not disappoint, as Cilic survived a 4-6, 6-0, 7-6(4) thriller at the 2014 Toronto Masters. The fourth-ranked Croat has been something of a Grand Slam specialist in recent times, with final appearances at both Wimbledon last summer and the Australian Open earlier this season. Cilic struggled after leaving Melbourne, but he may be heating back up with a 3-1 record on clay (his lone loss has come to Kei Nishikori via a 6-4, 6-7(1), 6-3 decision in the Monte-Carlo quarterfinals).

Although Jaziri had never done much on clay going into the 2018 campaign, he is suddenly picking up plenty of confidence on the slow stuff. The 78th-ranked Tunisian reached the quarterfinals in Marrakech and is coming off a third-round finish in Barcelona (fell to Grigor Dimitrov 10-8 in a third-set tiebreaker). Getting right back in action this week, Jaziri took advantage of a favorable draw and hammered Turkish wild card Marsel Ilhan 6-1, 6-2 on Tuesday. A steep step up in competition may result in the end of the road for the underdog, as a well-rested Cilic should be back at 100 percent–which was not the case in Monte-Carlo.

Pick: Cilic in 2

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