As always, the Houston ATP 250 will have a distinct American flavor on Tuesday. Brandon Nakashima and Martin Damm will face each other, while Alex Michelsen starts his week against Coleman Wong.
Martin Damm vs. (5) Brandon Nakashima
In two appearances at the US Men’s Clay Court Championship, Nakashima has reached the quarterfinals (2024) and semis (2025). The 33rd-ranked American already has a final (Brisbane) and semifinal (Acapulco) appearance this season, so he’s playing well and looks poised for more success in Houston. First up for Nakashima on Tuesday is Damm, the unseeded fifth seed. Damm brings a lot of food to the table, but the 22-year-old is a clay court apprentice and his game doesn’t seem to be very effective in this area.
Pick: Nakashima at 2
(7) Alex Michelsen vs. Coleman Wong
Michelsen and Wong will meet again for the first time in their careers on Tuesday. Although Michelsen is coming off back-to-back fourth-round efforts in Indian Wells and Miami, this marks the start of his least favorite time of the year – clay. The 21-year-old American is not completely hopeless in the red stuff, but it is certainly his worst place. Wong doesn’t have a lot of dirty experience, either, but his game should work well for it. The world No. 124 from Hong Kong has enjoyed some success at the ATP level this season (quarterfinals in Hong Kong and Delray Beach), so an upset is within the realm of possibility.
Pick: Wong at 3
