Honestly, I feel this Washington tournament is going to be a real bloodbath this year. With these ultra-fast playing conditions, I can’t see how some players are going to be able to go the distance against the big servers and hitters in the draw.
On paper, Stefanos Tsitsipas is the logical favorite. But I refuse to believe he can get through this tournament unscathed. Even though he’s an excellent player on hard courts, these extreme playing conditions are likely to put him in great difficulty, especially if he has to face players like Shelton, Fils or Tiafoe who will be able to suffocate him from the first exchanges.
The same goes for Rafael Jodar, whom I really appreciate. But I would be very surprised to see him go far in this kind of conditions. Even though he’s an excellent server, his baseline game is at risk of betraying him against more aggressive opponents capable of overwhelming him.
In short, I think this Washington tournament is going to be a real headache to decipher. The big servers and hitters are surely going to have a significant advantage, but you’ll also have to deal with the fatigue and heat that are likely to gradually wear down the players. Good matches to all! 🎾
