Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Winston-Salem match.
Hamad Medjedovic
The Serb came through against Arthur Rinderknech in straight sets, though it took nearly two hours. He created just three break points but converted two of them to secure a 6:3, 7:6 win. Despite the effort required, Medjedovic is priced as a clear favourite, rated almost twice as likely to win as his British opponent. His victories tend to be straightforward: seven of his last eight wins have come in straight sets.
Jacob Fearnley
So why is there little faith in Fearnley despite his seeding? At 24, he only broke into the top 100 this year, starting the season ranked 99th. After a run to the third round at Roland Garros, his progress has stalled. On the North American hard-court swing he suffered two quick eliminations from ATP level and split results at Challenger level (1-1). His most recent outing ended in retirement after splitting sets, raising questions over whether he has fully recovered from a knock.
Hamad Medjedovic vs Jacob Fearnley Prediction
Even after a long opening match, Medjedovic looks well-placed to handle an opponent as inconsistent as Fearnley. The Briton cannot afford to drop the first set, while Medjedovic has the tools to grind him down with lengthier rallies before finishing with precision hitting. The Serb should get the job done without going the distance.
