Predicted Winners in BOLD

[13] Ernests Gulbis (LAT) vs. Andreas Haider-Maurer (AUT) – Any match with Gulbis could go in any direction.

Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) vs Borna Coric (CRO) – I’ll pick a mild upset, but I think Coric is the underdog on paper.

Fabio Fognini (ITA) vs. Jerzy Janowicz (POL) – Fognini on clay is my pick despite feeling like Fognini is capable of tanking at any moment.  Jerzy can meltdown too so this could be a wonderful mess.

[15] John Isner (USA) vs. Steve Johnson (USA) – Big John had a great event in Miami and then promptly played poorly in Houston.  Isner owns a clay court win over Federer, but on clay I will take the grinding NCAA legend.

Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) vs. Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) – This match is worth the price of admission.

[Q] Denis Kudla (USA) vs. [Q] Benoit Paire (FRA) – Two qualifiers get a chance to advance.

Joao Sousa (POR) vs. [Q] Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) – Sousa seems like a player to watch this clay court season.

[12] Roberto Bautista-Agut (ESP) vs. Benjamin Becker (GER) – On clay, give me Bautista-Agut.

Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) vs. Pablo Carreño Busta (ESP) – Spanish karma?

David Goffin (BEL) vs. [Q] Norbert Gombos (SVK) – The Shire’s Davis Cup hero will win.

[LL] Denis Istomin (UZB) vs. [Q] Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) – Given Istomin was injured during qualifying, I am leaning toward another Spaniard.  Granted Istomin is playing with house money so to speak.