Ilya Ivashka vs Mackenzie Mcdonald Prediction & Betting Tips - Washington, USA

Prediction published on 05/08/2021, 09:37  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 05/08/2021 at 10:38 in Tennis Predictions

There will be an unseeded player in the semi-finals of the Citi Open in Washington. It could well be Ilya Ivashka who caused a big surprise in the second round when beating fourth seeded Grigor Dimitrov. Now he takes on Mackenzie McDonald who has also been beating higher ranked players this week. The winner of this match faces either Denis Kudla or Brandon Nakashima (both unseeded) in the last eight. Ivashka began this week ranked 65th but in the live rankings and needs a good week in Washington as he's about to drop a lot of ranking points earned in a Masters tournament two years ago, hence his live ranking being 66th. This week has seen him defeat Egor Gerasimov and then Dimitrov, both in straight sets. He's continuing the form that last week saw him beat world number 17 Gael Monfils at the Tokyo Olympics and before that the last 16 at Wimbledon.

Mackenzie McDonald is the world number 107 but up to 47th in terms of ranking points earned this year. He began this year in 194th place and in the live rankings is up to 100th and will be in the top 90 if he can win this match. The American was as high as 57th a couple of years ago but was out injured in 2020. This year has seen McDonald reach the last 16 of the Australian Open and win a Challenger tour event held in Kazakhstan. He also made it to the last 16 of a clay court tournament in Munich, where he was beaten in three sets by Ivashka. He lost to him again in Geneva (also on clay). He'd lost three matches in a row before this week. His form has improved though with wins over defending champion Nick Kyrgios and Benoit Paire. Back Ivashka to get a third win of the year over McDonald.