FAA was so close to coming back from 5-1 down in the 3rd set, but he lost the tiebreak against Yoshihito. Felix was up a set and a break at one point, but that was short-lived. The youngster has impressed this season. That loss took what would have been a great day, to an above average day.
91-44-6 on tennis in 2018 up 42.63 units
30-28 on tennis in 2019 down 34.12 units
Daniil Medvedev -3 at -152 for 4 units. Filip Krajinovic has won his last 4 matches in straight sets, but none of those opponents have been of Medvedev’s caliber. Medvedev beat the in-form Mackenzie McDonald 7-5, 6-0. Medvedev has won 4 ATP titles over the past 14 months, but he has yet to make it to a round of 16 match at Masters 1000 event. He knows this and gets the job done today.
Rafael Nadal -1.5 Sets at -290 for 5 units. I love Diego Schwartzman and his ability to get around the court. He’s small, but he covers ground well. Nadal still hasn’t got over his loss to Krygios and will want to win this tournament. Nadal gave up three match points in the deciding set tiebreaker to Krygios. Nadal is 6-0 against Schwartzman in his career and has only dropped 2 sets to him. Send it.
John Isner -1.5 Sets at -127 for 3 units. Isner is coming off his 6th 6-0 set win of his career. Alexei Popyrin didn’t stand a chance. Stefanos Tsitsipas and Karen Khachanov want Isner’s top 10 spot, so John has to keep winning. Isner has only lost in this round twice in his many appearances here (Monfils in 2017 and Roddick in 2011). Guido Pella is a claycourt player that is not of the same caliber on hardcourts as Isner, Monfils, or Roddick. Pella is in great form and this is the farthest he has even made it in this tournament. Isner has the surface and fitness advantage. Taking the American even though both are in great form.
Radu Albot +4 at -130 for 1 unit. Kyle Edmund and Radu Albot are both in great form. Edmund leads the H2H 3-0, but Albot is in the form of his life now. Albot has more match time lately as well. Going with the underdog in this one.
Roger Federer at -330 for 2 units. Federer is 19-0 against his countryman, Stan Warinka, on hardcourts.
Hubert Hurkacz +1.5 Sets at -119 for 2 units. Hurkacz beat Nishikori in an exciting 3 set match just 2 weeks ago. Hurkacz has won 11 of his past 17 matches. Nishikori barely beat the out-of-form Adrian Mannarino to get here. Novak Djokovic seem to have knocked Nisikori down a peg when he forced Kei to retire in Melbourne. This will be a close entertaining match. Hubert will have the confidence, but the Japanese #1 will want revenge..