The 2025 Houston Open continues on Thursday, April 3 with its second round matches as Brandon Nakashima, Kei Nishikori and Frances Tiafoe take to court. Get the best predictions and tips for the day from ATP Houston Open 2025.
Brandon Nakashima v Mackenzie McDonald
This is a second round encounter between two Americans who have faced off five times before this but never before on clay. Mackenzie McDonald leads 4-1 on head to head with Brandon Nakashima’s only win having come on the Challenger circuit.
What could be different this time is the fact that Nakashima enters the encounter ranked 33rd in the world, one away from her career-best ranking while McDonald has fallen to 100th. The good news for McDonald is the fact that he is coming off a first round win over Daniel Elahi Galan despite having started out a 11/10 underdog in that one.
Nakashima hasn’t played on clay before this but is coming off a quarterfinal appearance at this very tournament last year and he then made the third round in Barcelona and the second round at the French Open in 2024.
Those results by themselves should be enough for him to start as a favourite as he he faces a player who has himself struggled on this surface with McDonald’s last win before this first round triumph having come in 2022.
Nakashima v McDonald Tip: Nakashima to win: 9/20
Kei Nishikori v Christopher Eubanks
The 66th-ranked Kei Nishikori has never faced off against the world number 117 Christopher Eubanks in a competitive match before this.
Nishikori, who is slowly making a return to the circuit after having fallen to 352nd at the start of the previous season, looks to have found a lot of his old mojo back. While he might never come close to making it back to his career-best ranking of fourth on the ATP charts again, Nishikori does look like he has the game to break into the top 30.
This was on offer when he romped past Mitchell Krueger in the first round here, defeating him 6-4, 6-2 in a tournament where he had made the final the last time he played here – in 2011.
His opponent Eubanks was up against Rinky Hijikata, a player who hasn’t had much of a showing on clay and squeezed past him in three sets to set up this meeting with Nishikori. In doing so, Eubanks had won his first match on clay in 10 attempts – yes, that’s right, he was 0-9 on red dirt coming into that encounter.
Nishikori knows his way around clay a lot better though and it wouldn’t surprise us one bit if he comes through with some ease here.
Nishikori v Eubanks Tip: Nishikori to win in straight sets: 4/5
Frances Tiafoe v Adam Walton
It’s a bit of a surprise to see the 85th-ranked Adam Walton come through and set up this second round meeting with Frances Tiafoe despite having started out 11/10 to defeat Michael Mmoh. This was also his first tour-level win on clay and his first win on this surface at any level since 2019! Some achievement that.
Tiafoe, who has slipped a little to 17th from his world number 10 ranking, has won the title here in 2023 and was a runner-up last season. He also had a first round bye here and will now be on court for his first match on clay for this year.
While that could make things a bit more challenging as Tiafoe looks to get his feet going on clay, he is experienced enough to adjust quickly and go past Walton. Especially given that he has a few ranking points to defend in this tournament.
Tiafoe v Walton Tip: Tiafoe to win in straight sets: 9/11
Other Houston Open 2025 Predictions for the Day
- Alex Michelsen v Adrian Mannarino: Michelsen to win in straight sets: 1/2
