(5) Fernando Verdasco vs. (Q) Tim Smyczek
Verdasco and Smyczek will be facing each other for the first time in their careers when they collide in round one of the SAP Open on Tuesday night. Smyczek is off to a solid start in 2013. He lost in the USTA wild card playoffs for the Australian Open and also fell in qualifying but he ended up getting a lucky loser spot, upsetting Ivo Karlovic, then taking David Ferrer to four sets. Registering two spots off his career-high ranking at No. 105 in the world, Smyczek reached the semis of the Maui Challenger last month and he has already gone through qualifying in San Jose.
Verdasco played decent tennis in Melbourne, where he ousted David Goffin and Xavier Malisse before losing in five sets to Kevin Anderson. The fifth-seeded Spaniard is a modest 2-2 for the season and he has not played since the Australian Open. Smyczek is match tough at the moment, so this will not be a walk in the park for the favorite. A quick indoor hard court should, however, help Verdasco’s efforts.
Pick: Verdasco in 3
Blaz Kavcic vs. Lleyton Hewitt
Hewitt and Kavcic will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers when they clash in round one. Kavcic has won both of their previous encounters; 6-4, 7-6(3) two years ago in Winston-Salem and 7-6(2), 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-3 in the first round of last season’s French Open.
Hewitt is toiling down at No. 112 in the world but he has a clean bill of health for the most part at the beginning of his 2013 campaign. Kavcic had a memorable run at the Australian Open, where he won a grueling five-setter over James Duckworth to reach the third round before losing to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The Slovenian may have a slight edge in current form, Hewitt will undoubtedly showcase his mental toughness.
Pick: Hewitt in 3
Benjamin Becker vs. Ryan Harrison
Becker and Harrison will also be squaring off for the third time in their careers on Tuesday. Harrison leads the series 2-0, having prevailed via retirement (leading 6-4, 3-0) last year in Newport before winning 7-5, 6-4, 6-2 in the first round of the U.S. Open.
Becker will be hard-pressed to turn the tide because he is a mere 1-4 at the ATP level this season. The 31-year-old German is coming off an opening-round loss to Ivan Dodig in Zagreb. Harrison has not played since losing to Novak Djokovic in the Melbourne second round. The 57th-ranked American always plays his best at home on hard courts, so he has the edge.
Pick: Harrison in 3
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