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Friends and fellow veterans Radek Stepanek and Tommy Haas will be in first-round action on Tuesday in Newport. They are set for respective openers against Jack Sock and Adrian Mannarino.
(PR) Radek Stepanek vs. (4) Jack Sock
Sock and Stepanek will be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers when they collide in round one of the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships on Tuesday. Stepanek is contesting his eighth tournament since returning from a back injury that sidelined him between the 2014 U.S. Open and this spring’s clay-court swing. The 36-year-old Czech picked up one win at the French Open before losing in the Wimbledon first round to Aljaz Bedene in five sets.
The All-England Club proved to be the home of disappointment this year for Sock, as well. The 22-year-old American, who captured the doubles title there last summer with Vasek Pospisil, fell in the last 16 of the doubles event and right away in singles (to Sam Groth in four sets). Still, it has been a banner season for Sock. The world No. 39 is 14-7 at the ATP level with fourth-round performances at the Indian Wells Masters and Roland Garros and a title on the clay courts of Houston. Grass will help Stepanek implement his net-rushing tactics, but Sock’s power game will be too much in the end as long as he enjoys a decent serving day.
Pick: Sock in 3
(WC) Tommy Haas vs. (5) Adrian Mannarino
Haas’ comeback from yet another injury will continue on Tuesday. The 37-year-old German had been sidelined for almost exactly 12 months, as a shoulder problem kept him out following a retirement at the 2014 French Open through this year’s festivities at Roland Garros. Haas returned for the grass-court swing and compiled a 2-3 record in a trio of tournaments, advancing one round at both the Mercedes Cup and Wimbledon. The former world No. 2 ousted Dusan Lajovic at the All-England Club before succumbing to Milos Raonic 6-0, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-6(4).
Next up for Haas is a first-ever meeting with Mannarino, who has cooled off since a blistering start to the 2015 campaign. Mannarino finished runner-up in Auckland but has won back-to-back matches in the main draw of just one tournament since reaching the fourth round in both Indian Wells and Miami. The 35th-ranked Frenchman is coming off a second-round Wimbledon loss to compatriot Gael Monfils. Haas’ physical state is still too unreliable to expect big results, and Mannarino is a rock-solid performer who makes opponents hit a lot of shots–even on grass.
Pick: Mannarino in 2
Image may be NSFW.
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