Thanasi Kokkinakis vs Alex De Minaur Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Atlanta Open

Prediction published on 26/07/2023, 04:46  by Kennedy Kechula in Tennis Predictions

Second seed Alex de Minaur starts the defence of his Atlanta Open title on Thursday against unseeded Thanasi Kokkinakis. The winner of this second-round tie will play either seventh seed Ugo Humbert or the qualifier Lloyd Harris in the quarterfinals. Thanasi Kokkinakis came back from a set down to defeat the wildcard Gael Monfils in the first round. This was his 19th win on hard court this season. It returned him to winning ways after he lost in the second round in the Granby Challenger. The Australian is having a decent campaign as he has won 27 of the 43 matches he has played. He has one title on hard court in the challenger circuit. His form on the surface should have him confident of setting another personal record at the Atlantic Station. Kokkinakis is in his third appearance here and has advanced to this round for the first time. His opening-round win has nudged him up two places to 84th in the live ranking.

Alex de Minaur is ranked 17th in the ATP. He arrives for this tournament after being eliminated in the second round at Wimbledon. The Australian number one hasn’t been dominant this year as he has compiled a 22-14 win-loss record. He has nonetheless had some outstanding performances. The 24-year-old has played two finals so far and has won one, on hard court in Acapulco. He will hope to add to this as he begins his title defence here. de Minaur has triumphed in Atlanta twice before and is one of three players to have won multiple titles here. Nine of his 22 victories have come on hard court and so too have four of his defeats.