Inaugural @NewYorkOpen 250 Features Kevin Anderson and Top Americans Including Ryan Harrison

Inaugural ATP New York 250 Features Kevin Anderson and Top Americans Including Ryan Harrison

Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic

The inaugural New York Open, a 250 on indoor hard courts in Long Island, New York, features black courts, most of the top American men on tour, and top seed Kevin Anderson, who was a finalist at the 2017 US Open in New York City. Who will find success at the first edition of this tournament?

Top Half:

Kevin Anderson reached the final in his only other ATP tournament this season, the 250 in Pune, and expectations are he’ll match that in New York. Anderson opens with a qualifier or Mackenzie McDonald. McDonald recently made a challenger final in Dallas, but Anderson will be the favorite. AO boys champion Sebastian Korda will make his ATP main draw debut against fellow young gun Frances Tiafoe. Nikoloz Basilashvili takes on Dudi Sela, Basilashvili over Tiafoe is my pick for round 2, with Anderson winning a quarterfinal against Basilashvili.

John Isner will be happy to back on North American hard courts, where he makes a majority of his living. Isner looks set to face Kei Nishikori in the quarterfinals. He’ll need to beat Radu Albot/qualifier, to get there. Nishikori, coming back from injury and with a recent challenger title in the bag, faces Noah Rubin, with Victor Estrella/Evgeny Donskoy to follow. Nishikori, presuming he’s moving along with his comeback efforts, is my pick against Isner in the quarters.

Bottom Half:

Sam Querrey has been poor to start 2018, but he’ll be the favorite against Matt Ebden or Mikhail Youzhny. I’ll back Ryan Harrison against Donald Young, Jared Donaldson/Ivo Karlovic, and Querrey. Harrison has points to defend this week, and though Karlovic and Querrey are tough, they are far from unbeatable right now.

Peter Gojowczky has dark horse potential, and he should at least beat a qualifier. Adrian Mannarino is the favorite to reach the quarters though. I’ll back Steve Johnson to beat a qualifier and then Jeremy Chardy/qualifier before falling to Mannarino in the quarters.

Predictions

Semis

Anderson d. Nishikori

Harrison d. Mannarino

Anderson plays well on this surface, and should be fitter than Nishikori. Harrison at home should have a good week, but Anderson should be the favorite to take home the title with this unbalanced draw.

Final

Anderson d. Harrison