Damien Kayat previews Christopher Eubanks vs Jordan Thompson and Tallon Griekspoor vs Gael Monfils in selected round of 16 matches of the Mubadala Citi Open, on the 3rd and 4th of August 2023.
2023 ATP Tour
ATP 500 series
Mubadala Citi Open
William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Centre (Outdoor Hardcourt)
Selected Round of 16 Matches – 3rd, 4th August
Christopher Eubanks 10/11 | Jordan Thompson 77/100
Christopher Eubanks should be a perfect fit for these slick Washington surfaces. The towering American- a former college star- has taken the tour by storm in what has been a whirlwind period for the 27-year-old.
Eubanks gave us a glimpse of his potential with a run to the quarterfinals in Miami earlier this year. But it wasn’t until the grass-court swing that we really got to see what the big-serving Eubanks had in his locker. He won his maiden tour title in Mallorca before wowing the world with his shot-making prowess at Wimbledon.
He reached the quarterfinals at SW19, signalling the arrival of a newly-minted star. He perhaps let that new pressure get to him in front of his home fans in Atlanta last week, going out to unheralded Alesander Vukic in a pretty tame quarterfinal defeat.
But he just eased past Sho in straight-sets and he will find these extremely quick surfaces ideal. He can just press forward with that serve and hit through the line at will.
Jordan Thompson has already overcome one ‘David and Goliath’ clash (he took down the recently returned Kevin Andrson in an epic three-set thriller to open proceedings this week). He is going to have to repeat that dose against a far more exuberant opponent.
This has been a typically bullish year for the plucky Thompson. He has won two Challenger titles and he also reached the 2nd ATP Tour final of his career at the Libema Open (going down to up-and-coming Dutch star Talon Griekspoor in three sets).
He went down to Nishikori in a keenly contested first-round match in Atlanta last week but he seems to have found a little magic in Washington. He has improved his overall Citi Open record to 6-5 with victories over Anderson and Mannarino.
That victory over Mannarino was a nice little bit of revenge following the Frenchman’s quarterfinal win in Newport. Thompson has shown that he can withstand power against Anderson but this could be an even more hostile artillery barrage.
Verdict: Eubanks to win in straight-sets
Thompson won their only previous encounter back in 2019. But this iteration of Eubanks is obviously an entirely different proposition. He looks at ease on these surfaces and will rack up plenty of winners.
But you can’t help but admire the indefatigable spirit of the Aussie. He regularly goes up against stronger players and very rarely gets completely rolled over. But I think Eubanks’ current form is just irrepressible.
Tallon Griekspoor 17/20 | Gael Monfils 5/6
As I predicted, Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor made absolutely easy work out of lefty Liam Broady. Some people were just getting overhyped by the Brit following a victory over Rudd at Wimbledon.
Griekspoor is fast emerging as one of the breakout players of the year and his aggressive style is just made for these surfaces. He suffocated Broady with solid serving and relentless aggression.
He started this year’s campaign in really encouraging hardcourt form, winning his maiden title at the Maharashtra Open before a classy semi-final run in Rotterdam.
He went somewhat off the boil after that but his recent victory at the Rosmalen event seems to have reestablished some of that early season confidence.
New parents Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina have continued their fairytale run in Washington after they both won their respective matches on Wednesday. Svitolina has been dynamic since returning to action while 36-year-old veteran Gael Monfils has struggled with injury.
He missed Svitolina’s semi-final run at SW19, choosing instead to stay at home with the baby while he nursed an injury sustained at Roland Garros. As such, there wasn’t a whole lot expected from the gangly Frenchman this week.
But the great entertainer has shown glimpses of his best tennis at a tournament which has been kind to him in the past (he reached the final here in 2011 and would go on to claim the title in 2016).
He appeared emotional on court following his first-round victory against Fratangelo, hinting at an impending retirement. But he was absolutely brilliant against the mercurial Alexander Bublik, diffusing the big-serving Kazakh and sending the baying Washington crowds into delirium.
Verdict: Griekspoor to win in three
This will be the first career meeting between these two. Monfils will obviously go into this match as the huge sentimental favourite. But I just think Griekspoor has the edge at this moment in time. He looks in great physical state and I expect him to play percentage tennis against the Frenchman.
