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The fifth day of main draw action at the 2023 U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship in Houston on Friday will feature a whopping 12 matches.
With rain wreaking havoc for the second day running, all eight second-round matches and four quarterfinals will be played on the same day at the ATP 250 event. That means the eight second-round victors will have to do double duty, weather permitting.
Without further ado, here's a look at four second-round matches on a bumper Friday in Houston:
#1 Round of 16: Frances Tiafoe (Houston top seed) vs Steve Johnson
Top seed Frances Tiafoe locks horns with wildcard Steve Johnson in his Houston opener that was originally scheduled two days ago.
The 15th-ranked Tiafoe is 15-5 in 2023, having won all five matches at the inaugural United Cup. He also made the last eight at Dallas and Acapulco and the semifinals at Indian Wells. Meanwhile, World No. 152 Johnson (1-2) is off the mark for the season after beating qualifier Facundo Bagnis.
Johnson has won the pair's two previous meetings - both on clay - but the in-form Tiafoe should take this one.
Prediction: Tiafoe in straight sets
#2 Round of 16: Tommy Paul vs Yannick Hanfmann
Second seed Tommy Paul opens his Houston campaign against qualifier Yannick Hanfmann.
World No. 18 Paul is 16-6 this season, having reached the last four at the Australian Open and the final in Acapulco. Meanwhile, the 134th-ranked Hanfmann improved to 3-3 in 2023 after downing qualifier Yosuke Watanuki in the first round.
Hanfmann won their lone meeting two years ago in Cagliari, but Paul should emerge victorious here.
Prediction: Paul in straight sets
#3 Round of 16: J.J. Wolf vs Denis Kudla
Fifth seed J.J. Wolf takes on Denis Kudla in an all-American second-round matchup in Houston.
World No. 54 Wolf is 10-7 for the season after beating Jordan Thompson in his opener. Meanwhile, the 137th-ranked Kudla overcame qualifier Aleksandar Vukic to improve to 4-4 in 2023.
Going by his current form, Wolf should take this first-time matchup. The two players were tied at 4-4 in the first set when rain stopped play on Thursday.
Prediction: Wolf in straight sets
#4 Round of 16: Marcos Giron vs Tomas Machac
Seventh seed Marcos Giron takes on qualifier Tomas Machac in one of the second-round matches.
World No. 69 Giron is 9-8 on the season, while the 138th-ranked Machac is 2-4 after beating Jack Sock in his opener in Houston.
The two players haven't met before, but Giron should emerge victorious.
Prediction: Giron in straight sets
