Hey there, fellow tennis enthusiasts It’s your girl Mia Johnson-Carter here, living the dream in Miami. I’m super excited to share some awesome news with you all about the upcoming matches at the ATP 500 in Tokyo. This week is heating up with some fantastic matchups that are sure to keep us on the edge of our seats.
First up, we have an all-American showdown between Ben Shelton and Reilly Opelka. These two have faced each other before, with Shelton coming out on top in their previous match at the Cincinnati Masters. This time around, Shelton is the defending champion in Tokyo, which can only add to his confidence. However, Opelka has been making a comeback after almost two full seasons away from the sport, and he’s definitely not one to underestimate.
Ben Shelton is looking strong as he defends his title in Tokyo.
The real concern for Shelton is the heavy Laver Cup workload he had over the weekend. But, as we saw last year, Shelton got right back into gear to lift the Tokyo trophy. With three full days off following his impressive Laver Cup effort, Shelton should begin his title defense in relatively routine fashion.
Pick: Shelton in 2
Next up, we have a match that could be an upset for the ages. Stefanos Tsitsipas, who hasn’t been in the best form lately, faces off against Alex Michelsen. Tsitsipas has been struggling to find his footing this season, losing in the second round of Wimbledon, Montreal Masters, and Cincinnati Masters before exiting the U.S. Open in round one. Since the Paris Olympics, he’s only won two matches—and one of those was a borderline exhibition at the Laver Cup.
Stefanos Tsitsipas is looking to turn his season around in Tokyo.
Given his recent form, Michelsen is more than capable of capitalizing on a vulnerable opponent. The 20-year-old American finished runner-up in both Newport and Winston-Salem, reached the quarterfinals in Washington D.C., and advanced one round at the U.S. Open before losing to eventual champion Jannik Sinner. A fast surface helps Michelsen more than Tsitsipas, so this has the makings of an upset.
Pick: Michelsen in 3
These matches are just a taste of what’s to come at the ATP 500 in Tokyo. With such strong contenders on both sides of the court, it’s going to be an exciting week for tennis fans everywhere.
If you want, you can check out the news where I found it here.
Yours truly,
Mia
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