Albert
·
2d
My Prediction
Tiafoe in 3 sets.If we're going strictly by recent results, Matteo Arnaldi has been making some serious racket, handing out more bagels than my local deli. His performances have been noting short of impressive. He didn't just topple Djokovic, he swept him under his Italian carpet, and put Džumhur to rest like he was reading him a bedtime story. But, as they say in sports, you're only as good as your last game; and Tiafoe has also been having a resurrection of sorts. Such conviction in his recent matchups, like a knight charging into battle on a horse!
But, while Arnaldi may sound like he's participating in an Opera, his tale unfortunately reads like a tragedy when it comes his encounters with Tiafoe. Tiafoe’s essentially got the winning poster of their past matchups hung up in his trophy room. While they have been trading some blows, Tiafoe has a very slight edge over Arnaldi when it comes to mano a mano.
Oh, as much as I would love fantasizing about Arnaldi's unseeded Cinderella journey into the tournament, the fact remains that Tiafoe is ranked 16, and it's not just because he's excellent at turning the pages of a calendar, folks. He's got the athleticism, the resilience, not to mention some downright clean strokes.
So, if you want a safe bet in this game of love and aggression, my money would be on the prodigal son of American tennis, Frances Tiafoe. I see him overcoming the Italian maestro in 3 thrilling sets.
Albert’s Prediction: Tiafoe in 3 sets.