The U.S. hard-court summer kicks off this week with the Atlanta Open, while the post-Wimbledon clay swing continues in Umag and Kitzbuhel with the Paris Olympics on the horizon. Key players in action include Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Denis Shapovalov, Andrey Rublev, Lorenzo Musetti, and Dominic Thiem. Here are previews and picks for this week’s ATP events.
Atlanta Open
Where: Atlanta, Georgia
Surface: Hard
Prize money: $756,020
Points: 250
Top seed: Ben Shelton
2023 champion: Taylor Fritz (not playing)
Draw analysis:
The Atlanta bracket boasts strong players like Shelton, Shapovalov, Davidovich Fokina, Thompson, Coric, and Shang. Intriguing first-round matchups include Davidovich Fokina vs. Cazaux, Shapovalov vs. Goffin, and Coric vs. Kokkinakis. Tiafoe, Mannarino, and other top seeds will also be in action.
Hot: Jordan Thompson, Brandon Nakashima
Cold: Adrian Mannarino, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Quarterfinal predictions:
Shelton over Shapovalov, Thompson over Cazaux, Nakashima over Tiafoe, Harris over Vukic
Semifinals:
Shelton over Thompson, Nakashima over Harris
Final:
Shelton over Nakashima
Plava Laguna Croatia Open
Where: Umag, Croatia
Surface: Clay
Prize money: 579,320 Euros
Points: 250
Top seed: Andrey Rublev
Defending champion: Alexei Popyrin
Draw analysis:
Rublev, Cerundolo, Musetti, and Navone are some of the top players at Umag. Musetti and Navone are potential quarterfinal foes, with strong competition from Rune, Darderi, and more.
Hot: Lorenzo Musetti, Mariano Navone, Tomas Machac, Duje Ajdukovic
Cold: Andrey Rublev, Holger Rune
Quarterfinal predictions:
Machac over Rublev, Arnaldi over Cerundolo, Darderi over Fognini, Musetti over Cobolli
Semifinals:
Arnaldi over Machac, Musetti over Cobolli
Final:
Musetti over Arnaldi
Generali Open
Where: Kitzbuhel, Austria
Surface: Clay
Prize money: 579,320 Euros
Points: 250
Top seed: Sebastian Baez
Defending champion: Sebastian Baez
Draw analysis:
Thiem headlines the draw in Kitzbuhel, making a final appearance before retiring. Baez, Borges, Tabilo, and other contenders will look to make an impact. Berrettini, Etcheverry, and more provide tough competition.
Hot: Sebastian Baez, Alejandro Tabilo, Sebastian Ofner, Nuno Borges, Matteo Berrettini, Thiago Agustin Tirante
Cold: Dominic Thiem, Laslo Djere, Marton Fucsovics
Quarterfinal predictions:
Baez over Carballes Baena, Diaz Acosta over Klein, Etcheverry over Djere, Tabilo over Ofner
Semifinals:
Baez over Diaz Acosta, Etcheverry over Tabilo
Final:
Etcheverry over Baez
