Feliciano López vs Fernando Verdasco Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP US Open

Prediction published on 26/08/2018, 10:13  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 26/08/2018 at 11:13 in ATP US Open Predictions

Two Spaniards face each other in the first round of the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the year. Fernando Verdasco is ranked 32 in the world and perhaps predictably for a clay-loving Spaniard, his best performance in the Grand Slams this year was in Paris where he reached the fourth round before losing in straight sets to Novak Djokovic after beating fourth seed Gregor Dimitrov in the previous round. He's faiied to make it past the second round in the two other Grand Slam tournaments this year.  Twice he has reached the quarter finals of the US Open but they were in 2008 and 2009. Recent form isn't inspiring with the Spaniard losing in the first two rounds for the past five years. It's not been a great year apart from that run in the French Open, though he did reach the last 16 of the Miami Open but didn't beat anyone of note.  His best performance was in reaching the final of the Rio Open but again that was on clay.

Feliciano Lopez is 36 years-old but that's only two more than his opponent. He reached the quarter finals here three years ago but hasn't reached the fourth round of any Grand Slam since. 2018 has seen him lose in the first round in Australia and France and he reached the second round at Wimbledon then lost in straight sets to Juan Martin del Potro winning just seven games. Recent form on hard courts isn't good at all  and he hasn't got past the quarter final stage of any tournament in 2018. Head to head matches between the two have seen Lopez win the last three with the most recent win being in this tournament last year when he won in four sets. Lopez has lost his last three matches in tournaments and that poor form tips the balance in the favour of Verdasco for the winner of this match.