Atlanta Open 2024: Mackenzie McDonald vs Yoshihito Nishioka preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: Mackenzie McDonald vs Yoshihito Nishioka
Date: July 24, 2024
Tournament: Atlanta Open 2024
Round: Second Round (Round of 16)
Venue: Atlantic Station, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Category: ATP 250
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $756,020
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN+
Mackenzie McDonald vs Yoshihito Nishioka preview
Mackenzie McDonald will square off against Yoshihito Nishioka in the second round of the Atlanta Open 2024.
McDonald was drawn against seventh seed Brandon Nakashima in the first round here. The former was all over the latter in the opening set and broke his serve twice to take the set.
The second set was more competitive, and both players were on even footing until the closing stages of the set. Nakashima held a break point on McDonald's serve at 4-3 but the latter fended it off for a hold of serve.
It would prove to be Nakashima's undoing as he got broken in the very next game. McDonald stepped up to serve for the match at 5-4 and did so with ease to register a 6-2, 6-4 win.
Nishioka took on qualifier Zachary Svajda in his Atlanta opener. The pair traded service breaks early in the first set but remained solid on serve otherwise. The set eventually went to a tie-break, in which the Japanese pipped his opponent to claim the set.
The second was largely dictated by Nishioka right from the start. While he missed a break point opportunity at the start of the set, he didn't make the same mistake twice. He broke Svajda's serve in the sixth game to go 4-2 up and held on to the lead to secure a 7-6 (4), 6-3 win.
Mackenzie McDonald vs Yoshihito Nishioka head-to-head
Nishioka leads McDonald 4-2 in the head-to-head. The American won their previous encounter at the 2023 Delray Beach Open in three sets.
Mackenzie McDonald vs Yoshihito Nishioka odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Mackenzie McDonald vs Yoshihito Nishioka prediction
Nakashima played one of his best matches of the year so far to oust Nakashima in the previous round. He saved all three break points that he faced, and hit 20 winners against 11 unforced errors. It marked his fourth win of the season, mainly because he was sidelined for four months after January.
Nishioka raised his level even further after a close first set went his way to down Svajda. He won 80 percent of his first serve points and struck 21 winners in contrast to 15 unforced errors.
McDonald and Nishioka are familiar rivals, having faced off six times before this. While the latter leads their overall rivalry, it is tied 2-2 on hardcourts. The American won their previous encounter but given how his season has panned out so far, he will be the underdog heading into this match-up.
Pick: Yoshihito Nishioka to win in three sets.