Houston, Estoril, and Marrakech previews and predictions  

And easily, the clay-court swing is upon us. 
 
We are a week far from the filthy season truly warming up with the Monte-Carlo Masters, however the present trio of Houston, Estoril, and Marrakech offers some severe amount even if the quality might be doing not have simply a bit. Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Denis Shapovalov, Casper Ruud, Hubert Hurkacz, Gael Monfils, Dominic Thiem, Stan Wawrinka, and Matteo Berrettini are amongst those in action. 
 
U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship

Where: Houston, Texas  
Surface: Clay  
Prize Money: $661,585  
Points: 250  

Top seed: Ben Shelton 
Defending champ: Frances Tiafoe 

Draw analysis: Clay in the United States—a minimum of at the ATP level—begins and ends in Houston. The draw is less American heavy than typical, with only half of the 8 seeded gamers coming from the host country. Shelton tops the list and has friendly course to the quarterfinals, however he is clearly an unverified product on the red things. Tomas Martin Etcheverry is without a doubt the very best clay-courter in the leading half of the bracket, however he has actually had a hard time considering that suffering an ankle injury throughout the Golden Swing. 

Tiafoe beat Etcheverry in in 2015’s last and a rematch is possible in 2024. However, based upon present kind it’s not likely that Tiafoe’s title defense totals up to much. Shapovalov and Francisco Cerundolo are amongst those who might capitalize if Tiafoe makes an early exit. 

Quarterfinal forecasts: Ben Shelton over Brandon Nakashima, Tomas Martin Etcheverry over Juan Pablo Varillas, Thanasi Kokkinakis over Frances Tiafoe, and Francisco Cerundolo over Denis Shapovalov 

Semifinals: Etcheverry over Shelton and Cerundolo over Kokkinakis 

Final: Etcheverry over Cerundolo 

Millenium Estoril Open

Where: Estoril, Portugal  
Surface: Clay  
Prize cash: 579,320 Euros  
Points: 250  

Top seed: Casper Ruud  
Defending champ: Casper Ruud 

Draw analysis: Estoril is among the much better clay-court 250s on the 2024 calendar. Ruud and Hurkacz blaze a trail as the leading 2 seeds and they are participated a strong field by Monfils, Thiem, Lorenzo Musetti, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, and Arthur Fils. Ruud and Monfils are on a clash for the quarterfinals, while Musetti vs. Fils might be a quarterfinal face-off on the other side of the bracket. 

A number of stories worth following include 2 gamers at opposite ends of the profession spectrum. Joao Sousa is retiring in Estoril, so his last match will in all probability come versus Fils in round one. Meanwhile, Joao Fonseca is a 17-year-old who began going far for himself on the Golden Swing. The extremely promoted Brazilian might satisfy Hurkacz in the round of 16. 

Quarterfinal forecasts: Casper Ruud over Gael Monfils, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina over Daniel Altmaier, Lorenzo Musetti over Arthur Fils, and Dominik Koepfer over Joao Fonseca 

Semifinals: Ruud over Davidovich Fokina and Musetti over Koepfer 

Final: Ruud over Musetti 

Grand Prix Hassan II

Where: Marrakech, Morocco  
Surface: Clay  
Prize cash: 562,815 Euros  
Points: 250  

Top seed: Laslo Djere 
Defending champ: Roberto Carballes Baena 

Draw analysis: Laslo Djere is the No. 1 seed in Marrakech; he would be the No. 7 seed in Houston and he likewise wouldn’t have a first-round bye in Estoril. Needless to state, the Marrakech lineup is far from amazing. That being stated, Wawrinka and Berrettini are wanting to reanimate their 2024 projects at a competition in which the title is definitely there for the taking. With Wawrinka and Berrettini on board, the unseeded contingent is a lot more fascinating than the 8 seeds! 

Both of those veterans discover themselves in the bottom half of the brackets; they might go head-to-head in the semifinals. Wawrinka’s course is broad open, however Berrettini has among the most difficult draws of anybody. The Italian will satisfy Alexander Shevchenko in round one and if he wins would be on course to face Lorenzo Sonego in the last 8. In an entirely up for grabs leading half, safeguarding champ Roberto Carballes Baena is unseeded however has every possibility to make another deep run. 

Quarterfinal forecasts: Flavio Cobolli over Laslo Djere, Facundo Diaz Acosta over Roberto Carballes Baena, Lorenzo Sonego over Alexander Shevchenko, and Stan Wawrinka over Sebastian Ofner 

Semifinals: Diaz Acosta over Cobolli and Wawrinka over Sonego 

Final: Wawrinka over Diaz Acosta