10SBALLS SHARES RICKY’S TENNIS PICKS FOR WEDNESDAY IN WASHINGTON, INCLUDING ZVEREV VS. FRITZ AND MONFILS VS. LU

Written by: Staff on 20th July 2016

10SBALLS SHARES RICKY'S TENNIS PICKS FOR WEDNESDAY IN WASHINGTON, INCLUDING ZVEREV VS. FRITZ AND MONFILS VS. LU

epa05159320 Taylor Fritz of the US pumps his fist after winning a point from Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania in the semifinals of the Memphis Open tennis championship at the Racquet Club of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, 13 February 2016. EPA/TANNEN MAURY |

By Ricky Dimon

An ATP next-generation battle is on Wednesday’s schedule in Washington, D.C., where Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz are set for a highly-anticipated showdown. The top two seeds will also be kicking off their campaigns, with John Isner facing James Duckworth and Gael Monfils going up against Yen-Hsun Lu.

Ricky previews the action and makes his predictions.

7) Alexander Zverev vs. Taylor Fritz

Zverev and Fritz will be squaring off for the first time in their professional careers when they collide in round two of the Citi Open on Wednesday. The two teenagers previously went head-to-head in 2013 U.S. Open junior competition, with Zverev prevailing 6-3, 7-6(2). Fast forward three seasons and the 19-year-old German has already climbed to No. 27 in the world. He is 29-17 in 2016, a mark that includes runner-up showings in Nice and Halle.

Although Zverev has been on the scene for much longer than Fritz, the 18-year-old American is now making a serious surge. He has skyrocketed to 67th in the world rankings thanks in part to a final appearance in Memphis and a quarterfinal performance in Acapulco as a qualifier. Fritz earned his place in this contest by defeating Dudi Sela 6-4, 6-3 on Monday.

Pick: Zverev in 3

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Yen-Hsun Lu vs. (2) Gael Monfils

Gael Monfils of France in action against Kei Nishikori of Japan during their quarter final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida, USA, 31 March 2016. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER

Monfils will be aiming for his first match win since early May when he takes the court on Wednesday. What was once looking like a potential World Tour Finals campaign has been derailed by a groin injury and an illness that kept him out of the French Open. The world No. 17 placed runner-up in Rotterdam and at the Monte-Carlo Masters in addition to quarterfinal finishes at the Australian Open, in Indian Wells, and in Miami. He played only one grass-court match, falling right away at the All-England Club to countryman Jeremy Chardy in five sets.

Up first for Monfils in Washington is Lu, who trails the head-to-head series 2-0. They have not squared off since waging a five-set battle in Melbourne three years ago, when Monfils pulled out a 7-6(5), 4-6, 0-6, 6-1, 8-6 victory. Lu missed the first four months of this year due to elbow surgery, but his comeback has been impressive. The world No. 71 boasts two Challenger titles to go along with two Challenger runner-up trophies, and he advanced one-round at Wimbledon before bowing out to eventual champion Andy Murray. Lu kicked off this week by defeating Austin Krajicek 6-1, 7-6(3).

Pick: Monfils in 3

(1) John Isner vs. (Q) James Duckworth

Isner is looking to bounce from what was a disastrous Davis Cup weekend for the United States in Portland, Oregon. The 6’10” American helped his team get off to a 2-0 start against Croatia by hammering Borna Coric last Friday, but the visitors’ comeback en route to a 3-2 victory featured a straight-set win at Isner’s expense for Marin Cilic. Still, Isner is in decent enough form. Washington’s No. 1 seed registers at 16th in the rankings and he advanced to the Wimbledon third round on the heels of a fourth-round performance at Roland Garros.

Up first for Isner is Duckworth, whom he has never met. The 24-year-old Australian owns just two ATP-level match wins in 2016 and he has plunged to No. 205 in the rankings. He managed to qualify for the main draw at this tournament and won his opener 7-5, 6-1 over a slumping Tim Smyczek on Monday. A significant uptick in competition level should bring a swift end to Duckworth’s week.

Pick: Isner in 2