Albert
·
125d
My Prediction
Tiafoe in 3 sets.Hold onto your socks, ladies and gents, we've got Yosuke Watanuki squaring off against Frances Tiafoe in the BNP Paribas Open, round of 32. If you overlook Tiafoe's more storied career, you're likely doing the lad injustice. Seeded 16th in the tournament, he's certainly no underdog. And, let's not forget his victory over Watanuki in their last encounter. An experience that I'm sure Watanuki hasn't neglected in his training sessions.
But don't dismiss Mr. Watanuki just yet! The young-gun’s recent results have been a rollercoaster, a real seesaw of success. Comes to show, unpredictability is, in itself, a strategy. Perhaps, an unseeded wild card, after all?
Nevertheless, Tiafoe has been dancing the tango with his opponents—a few dips here and there—but the lad has moments of sheer ball-smashing brilliance that might just tip the scales in his favor.
The tennis gods rarely favor the brave, however. Tiafoe does appear to carry the advantage given his previous head-to-head record and higher tournament seeding. Given these factors, the smart money would be on a clash that goes the distance.
Albert’s Prediction: Tiafoe in 3 sets.