ATP Memphis Preview
This ATP World Tour 250 made history in 2015. Memphis had twice seen
Jimmy Connors win the title back-to-back as well as Todd Martin and
Tommy Haas since the inception of the event back in 1977. Last year, Kei
Nishikori became the first player to win in Memphis three times in a
row. This year, he is back as the top seed with an eye on making that
four straight. Nishikori is the top seed with a 13-1 record in Memphis.
He’s followed by Americans Steve Johnson, Donald Young and Sam Querrey
to round out the top four seeds. Querrey has the most experience among
the tournament field with 26 matches all-time in Memphis. He is 18-8
having won the title once back in 2010.
Seed Report
Last week’s 250 level events saw a wide variety of results. In
Montpellier, where seeds had traditionally ruled the roost, only two
were left standing by the quarterfinals. Seven of the top eight seeds
made the quarterfinals in Quito, Ecuador and all eight made the quarters
in the inaugural Garanti Koza Sofia Open. Traditionally, upsets are
more prevalent at these smaller events and this week could see more of
that in Memphis.
Over the last five years, at least two seeds have lost their first matches in Memphis. Traditionally, half or more of the seeds are gone by the quarterfinals. Last year, four seeds made the quarterfinal round. That was the most in the last five years with three seeds in each of the previous four years. In the semifinals, seeds become even more rare with no more than two seeds reaching the semifinals each year between 2011 and 2015.
Once the final rolls around, it is not uncommon to see an unseeded player in the mix. Four of the last five years, an unseeded player has been in the final. Last year was the lone exception when the top two seeds met with Kei Nishikori beating Kevin Anderson. So Nishikori may be the heavy favorite to win it all, but there should be some surprises along the way. Here is a look at this week’s top eight seeds.
1. Kei Nishikori
Nishikori has been deadly the last three years in Memphis with a 13
match win streak. He was pushed more last year than in previous trips as
three of his four matches went three sets. Nishikori is the deserving
favorite and has another draw conducive to putting him in the title
hunt.
2. Steve Johnson
Johnson is ranked 30th currently and has just four matches in Memphis
with a 2-2 mark. He made the quarterfinals last year where he lost to
Kevin Anderson. Johnson has a good run of results indoors since Memphis
last year with a final in Vienna last fall along with a semifinal the
week after in Valencia.
3. Donald Young
The lefty holds a 7-6 mark in Memphis and made the semifinals in 2015.
He’s been hit and miss at indoor venues over the course of his career,
so par for the course for his career path. Young is just 1-2 this year
and has not played since a disappointing first round loss to Santiago
Giraldo at the Australian Open.
4. Sam Querrey
After two below average showings for the American in Memphis in 2013 and
2014, he got back on track by making the semifinals last year. He lost a
tough three set match to Nishikori with two tiebreaks played in that
one. Querrey has not played since retiring from his first round match in
Melbourne.