The action heats up at the ATP 250 Dallas Open on Wednesday, with multiple seeds making their debuts in the event. Six first and second-round matches will take place, with this set of predictions featuring the ever-more popular Ben Shelton. LWOT previews and predicts all of the action ahead–the other set of matches spotlighting Tommy Paul is in a separate article.
ATP Dallas Day 3 Predictions
Marcos Giron vs Max Purcell
Head-to-head: First meeting
Giron has played some of his best career tennis in Dallas, reaching the semifinals of the ATP 250 event in 2022. His overall 2024 campaign hasn’t been great, however. Losses in Australia have affected his ranking, as the American eventually snapped a six-match losing streak at tour-level on Tuesday against Nicolas Moreno de Alboran.
Purcell survived a brutal first-round encounter, battling what seemed to be hand cramps in the third set against Mitchell Kreuger. The Aussie eventually won that match in a third-set tiebreak. A win against Giron would mark his first time snatching back-to-back wins since last summer. Neither player has been in great form overall, and I give the edge to Giron who may be less fatigued and fresh with the home crowd behind him.
Prediction: Giron in 3
Ethan Quinn vs Rinky Hijikata
Head-to-head: First meeting
Quinn, the winner of the 2023 NCAA DI Championships, will certainly be a force to be reckoned with on the ATP Tour sooner rather than later. He picked up his first tour-level win at the 2023 ATP 250 event in Newport but faces a stern test against the in-form Hijikata this time around. Hijikata battled through tough draws in Australia, nearly upsetting the No. 22 seed Jan-Lennard Struff at the Australian Open. While Quinn should have nothing to lose, look for Hijikata to be too solid.
Prediction: Hijikata in 2
Ben Shelton vs Michael Mmoh
Head-to-head: 1-0 Shelton
The pair last played in the qualifying rounds of the 2021 US Open, a match that Shelton won in two tiebreak sets. Mmoh was the heavy favorite in that match, with Shelton still primarily focused on the college tennis circuit. Now, Shelton is the favorite going into this match, despite his disappointing result at the Australian Open after a third-round exit. Mmoh has fallen outside the Top 100 after a stint in the Top 90 last summer, but put up a solid result in France to reach the quarterfinals of Montpellier. However, it likely won’t be enough to upset Shelton, who should have too much pace.
Prediction: Shelton in 2
Main Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
