Friday's tennis acca tips: Danielle Collins to keep back-to-back hopes alive

Miami Open champion Danielle Collins is unseeded in Charleston but has still reached the last eight at the event after claiming her biggest title last week.

In Houston at the US Men's Clay Court Championships. American hopes dot the last eight meetings.

Here we make our picks for the quarter-finals for the US Men's Clay Court Championships and the Charleston Open.

 

ATP Houston: Tomas Martin Etcheverry vs Michael Mmoh | Pick: Etcheverry

ATP Houston: Ben Shelton vs Brandon Nakashima | Pick: Shelton

ATP Houston: Marcos Giron vs Luciano Darderi | Pick: Darderi

ATP Houston: Jordan Thompson vs Frances Tiafoe | Pick: Tiafoe

WTA Charleston: Daria Kasatkina vs Jaqueline Cristian | Pick: Kasatkina

WTA Charleston: Jessica Pegula vs Victoria Azarenka | Pick: Pegula

WTA Charleston: Elise Mertens vs Danielle Rose Collins | Pick: Collins

WTA Charleston: Veronika Kudermetova vs Maria Sakkari | Pick: Sakkari

 

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ATP Houston: Tomas Martin Etcheverry vs Michael Mmoh

Tomas Martin Etcheverry has beaten Michael Mmoh in their only full ATP Tour clash. the American owns a win on clay over the Argentine from a Challenger meeting in Tallahassee.

Etcheverry should have the beating of Mmoh considering his own clay court skills and experience on the surface.

Despite being active on the ATP Tour since 2014, Mmoh has limited clay court experience.

Etcheverry may have his best chance to win a maiden ATP Tour event in Houston.

 

ATP Houston: Ben Shelton vs Brandon Nakashima

Compatriots Ben Shelton and Brandon Nakashima will stage their first-ever meeting in singles competition in Houston.

The Americans will ensure that at least one home hope reaches the semi-finals although there is still a chance that all four semi-finalists could be playing on home soil.

Shelton has been a quick study in improvement on the ATP Tour but clay remains his weakest surface.

That might act as a leveller of sorts but Shelton's quality should shine through.

 

ATP Houston: Marcos Giron vs Luciano Darderi

Marcos Giron has a tough match in prospect against Cordoba champion Luciano Darderi.

Darderi's win in Argentina came just a few weeks ago and also came on clay.

In Giron's favour are both the rankings and the home crowd.

However, Darderi has already overcome home favourites on route to a title so he is well-placed to pull off a minor upset.

 

ATP Houston: Jordan Thompson vs Frances Tiafoe

Frances Tiafoe is enjoying a quiet resurgence but would love to make some noise in Houston.

Tiafoe should be able to neutralise the power and service game of Thompson on clay and drag out the rallies to bring the match into his wheelhouse.

 Tiafoe and Thompson have split their previous meetings but neither match was played on clay.

Thompson is in place to match his career-best ranking if he wins this match.

 

WTA Charleston: Daria Kasatkina vs Jaqueline Cristian

Jaqueline Cristian retired from a set down in her only previous meeting with Daria Kasatkina and the crowd will hope she gives a little more in this one.

Cristian has already spent six hours on court this week with the Romanian punching above her weight.

Cristian beat fancied home hopes Emma Navarro and Madison Keys on her way to the last eight.

However, this match will be a real acid test for Cristian and one she will struggle to win.

 

WTA Charleston: Jessica Pegula vs Victoria Azarenka

Jessica Pegula and Victoria Azarenka meet in what might be the pick of the last eight meetings in Charleston.

Azarenka won handily when they met in Melbourne in January but Pegula needs a win to level up their rivalry.

This will be their second official meeting on clay but Pegula won the first by walkover without a point played.

Pegula will be eager to prove that she can best a player like Azarenka and have a good clay swing.

 

WTA Charleston: Elise Mertens vs Danielle Collins

Danielle Collins tests her recent great form against a player she already had six meetings with and will face for a place in the last four.

Collins and Mertens have never faced each other on clay but the Belgian has won their most recent meeting.

Mertens may be a European player but she doesn't have an established pedigree on clay and often skips portions of the swing.

Collins is on a tremendous hot streak and that form should see her carry the day in this meeting.

 

WTA Charleston: Veronika Kudermetova vs Maria Sakkari

Another great last-eight matchup sees in-form players clash when Veronika Kudermetova and Maria Sakkari contest a battle for a semi-final spot.

Kudermetova has faced off with the Greek four times before on tour, with the Sakkari leading their head-to-head 3-1.

Sakkari has claimed the last three meetings between the players but they haven't met since 2022.

Kudermetova does hold the win in their only clay court clash but Sakkari should edge this one.