First round play in Dallas continues on Monday, highlighted by a matchup between Sebastian Korda and Michael Zheng. Number 8 Frances Tiafoe will start her campaign against Terence Atmane.
(WC) Michael Zheng vs. Sebastian Korda
Korda and Zheng will meet for the second time in their careers and the second time this season when they square off in the first round of the Dallas Open on Monday. They recently met in the first round of the Australian Open, where Zheng took out 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(0), 6-3.
The reigning NCAA singles champion bounced back quickly in Columbia following his run Down Under and lost to Michigan freshman Max Dahlin (world No. 1294) on Saturday. Yes, life comes at you fast in this game. For Korda, some momentum has returned. The 53rd-ranked American returned to the Challenger circuit last month and reached the final in San Diego. While it wasn’t up against the toughest competition, it was up to par with what Zheng brought to the table. Look for Korda to get revenge on Dallas.
Select: Korda in 3
Terence Atmane vs. (8) Frances Tiafoe
It’s too early to completely write off Atmane, but for now it looks like he’s been a one-hit wonder in Cincinnati. The 66th-ranked Frenchman has not played since a semi-final exit at the Cincinnati Masters last summer. He has compiled a 1-6 record in his last seven draw matches in 2025 and is 0-2 so far this season – including a five-set loss in Melbourne at the hands of world No. 141 Francesco Maestrelli.
Next up for Atmane on Monday is Tiafoe, whom he has never faced. The news isn’t exactly good for Tiafoe, either. The 28-year-old American has dropped to 30th in the rankings and will exit the second and third rounds in Brisbane and Melbourne, respectively. However, so far, Tiafoe has defeated all of his lower ranked players and only lost to Daniil Medvedev and Alex de Minaur. With the crowd behind him and a struggling player on the other side of the net, Dallas’ No. 8 should go.
Pick: Tiafoe at 2
