Delray Beach Open 2023 Day 3: Men's Singles Predictions ft. Mackenzie McDonald vs Yoshihito Nishioka, Denis Shapovalov vs Michael Mmoh
The third day of main-draw action at the 2023 ATP 250 Delray Beach Open will feature four matches as second-round action gets underway.
On the second day of matches, seven matches brought the first round to a close. The likes of J.J. Wolf, Ben Shelton and Mackenzie McDonald booked their places in the next round.
So, without further ado, here's a look at the predictions for the four Round of 16 games at Delray Beach on Wednesday:
#1 Nuno Borges vs Miomir Kecmanovic
Qualifier Nuno Borges will look to continue his winning ways in Delray Beach when he takes on Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic for a place in the quarterfinals.
World No. 104 Borges opened his account this season in his third attempt by seeing off home hope Steve Johnson in the first round. Interestingly, the Portuguese had beaten Johnson in qualifying to reach the main draw.
Meanwhile, the 33rd-ranked Kecmanovic is 4-4 on the season, having made the Adelaide 2 quarterfinals.
This will be their first meeting on tour, but expect Kecmanovic to emerge unscathed.
Prediction: Miomir Kecmanovic in straight sets.
#2 Mackenzie McDonald vs Yoshihito Nishioka (2020 Delray Beach runner-up)
World No. 56 Mackenzie McDonald will take on fifth seed Yoshihito Nishioka for a place in the Delray Beach quarterfinals.
McDonald improved to 7-4 on the season after beating Taro Daniel in the first round. Meanwhile, the 34th-ranked Nishioka is now 8-2 in 2023 after overcoming Oscar Otte in his tournament opener.
The in-form Nishioka has won four of their five previous meetings and should take this one to reach the last eight.
Prediction: Yoshihito Nishioka in three sets.
#3 Marcos Giron vs Matija Pecotic
Marcos Giron will take on Croatian qualifier Matija Pecotic for a place in the last eight at Delray Beach.
The 55th-ranked Giron improved to 6-4 on the season after beating his eighth-seeded compatriot Ben Shelton, who reached the Australian Open quarterfinals last month.
Meanwhile, it has been a fairytale campaign for the Pecotic. A part-time player who works full-time in finance, the 33-year-old - ranked 784 in the world - stunned 2017 winner Jack Sock in the first round for his first ATP Tour win.
For Matija Pecotic, a part-time player who works full-time in finance, it's been a long way to Delray tennis.com/news/articles/…
However, Giron should end his inspired run and reach the quarterfinals.
Prediction: Marcos Giron in straight sets.
#4 Denis Shapovalov vs Michael Mmoh
Third seed Denis Shapovalov will open his Delray Beach campaign against home hope Michael Mmoh.
The 27th-ranked Shapovalov is 4-3 on the season, including an opening-round loss to eventual champion Yibing Wu in Dallas last week. The left-hander also made the Adelaide 1 quarterfinals and the Australian Open third round last month.
Meanwhile, World No. 87 Mmoh is also 4-3 on the season after seeing off Aleksandar Kovacevic in the first round on Tuesday. The lucky loser stunned Alexander Zverev in the second round of the Australian Open last month.
The two players haven't met before, but Shapovalov should emerge victorious.
Prediction: Denis Shapovalov in straight sets.