Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Washington match.
In the second round of the ATP Washington tournament, last year’s quarter-finalist Alex Michelsen will face former champion Daniel Evans. The American enters the draw as the 13th seed, while the Briton advanced comfortably through the opening round. Daniel Evans, who lifted the trophy on these courts in 2023, once again embraces the underdog role, hoping to spring another upset.
Alex Michelsen
Alex Michelsen has posted a respectable 10-7 record on hard courts this season, though the level of opposition in his wins raises some concerns. Of his seven ATP-level victories, four came in deciding sets. He also dropped sets to significantly lower-ranked players, including Christopher O'Connell, Sumit Nagal, Bu Yunchaokete, and Michael Mmoh, and suffered losses to the likes of Ugo Carabelli (ATP No. 51) and Nishesh Basavareddy (ATP No. 111). He has not played since Wimbledon, leaving his current form in question.
Daniel Evans
In contrast, Daniel Evans produced solid results during the grass-court swing, recording wins over strong opponents such as Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul. He appears particularly confident in Washington: since 2022, he has won eight of nine matches here (89%), going on to claim the title in 2023. In this year’s opening round, Evans once again demonstrated the effectiveness of his sliced shots and tactical variety, securing a three-set victory over Zizou Bergs (3:6, 6:4, 6:3).
Alex Michelsen vs Daniel Evans Prediction
Daniel Evans has a realistic shot at winning outright, or at the very least, staying competitive in each set. Given his impressive record in Washington, we’re backing him with a set handicap.
