James Duckworth vs Frances Tiafoe Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Houston

Prediction published on 03/04/2024, 09:29  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 03/04/2024 at 10:29 in Tennis Predictions

Defending champion and third seed Frances Tiafoe takes on unseeded James Duckworth in the US Clay Court Championships last 16. In the quarter finals, the winner will take on either sixth seed Jordan Thompson or unseeded Aleksandar Kovacevic. Tiafoe is ranked 21st in the latest listings but was tenth last year. The American has made one last eight appearance and a semi-final this year, both on outdoor hard courts. His last two matches have been lost though so he'll be looking for a good run in Houston this week. Tiafoe won this tournament last year beating Tomas Martin Etcheverry in straight sets. He didn't drop a set in any of his four matches played here in 2023. He didn't continue that good form on clay and failed to make it past the last 32 of any other tournament. Tiafoe is down to 24th in the live rankings as he defends the points he won here last year.

James Duckworth leads Tiafoe 2-1 in previous meetings. He won their only match played on clay but that was nine years ago. These two players are having their first match against each other since 2016. Duckworth was ranked 105th when this tournament began but is up a place after his straight sets first round win over qualifier Giys Brouwer. He was 46th in the world in 2022. He's reached two hard court quarter finals this year. One clay court event has been played by him in 2024. That saw him lose in a Challenger Tour event held in Mexico to a player ranked outside the top 200. A win here will see him secure two clay court wins in a year for the first time since 2019. We go for Tiafoe to make a winning start.