Kuala Lumpur
(3) Leonardo Mayer vs. Jarkko Nieminen: This is the toughest call of the entire day in either Kuala Lumpur or Shenzhen. Their only previous encounter (won by Nieminen earlier this season on the clay of Bucharest) went to a third-set tiebreaker and this one should be similarly competitive. Mayer in 3.
Benjamin Becker vs. Pierre-Hugues Herbert: Herbert has had plenty of rest since outlasting Bernard Tomic in a third-set tiebreaker, but this is still a tough test. The edge goes to Becker on a fast indoor hard court. Becker in 3.
Michal Przysiezny vs. (7) Pablo Andujar: Przysiezny is a horrendous 3-19 at the ATP level in 2014. Asking him to win twice in one week is too much. Andujar in 3.
(Q) Philipp Petzschner vs. (2) Ernests Gulbis: Gulbis’ French Open semifinal notwithstanding, the Latvian seems to be a small-tournament specialist these days. Petzschner has not faced anyone ranked better than 61st since the 2013 French Open. Gulbis in 2.
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Shenzhen
(Q) Thanasi Kokkinakis vs. (6) Santiago Giraldo: Giraldo had not won a match since Washington, D.C. and he struggled with a Chinese qualifier in round one. But is Kokkinakis really ready to reach an ATP quarterfinal? Giraldo in 3.
Ricardas Berankis vs. Lukas Lacko: Berankis is coming off a straight-set rout of No. 5 seed Gilles Simon. The Frenchman was not likely 100 percent, but it should still give the Lithuanian plenty of confidence. Berankis in 3.
(1) David Ferrer vs. (Q) Viktor Troicki: Troicki got a retirement from Martin Klizan in the first round, but this is where his luck runs out. The Serb has not seen guys like Ferrer on the Challenger tour. Ferrer in 2.
Somdev Devvarman vs. (2) Andy Murray: Murray’s first two matches in Shenzhen, including this one, should not be competitive. Murray in 2.
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