Marcos Giron vs Luciano Darderi Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Houston

Prediction published on 04/04/2024, 05:45  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 04/04/2024 at 06:46 in Tennis Predictions

Seventh seed Marcos Giron takes on unseeded Luciano Darderi for a place in the US Clay Court Championships semi-final. Possible opponents in the last four include third seeded Frances Tiafoe and eighth seed Jordan Thompson. Giron is ranked 51st in the latest list but was a career-high 44th at the start of the year. The American has played two matches in Houston this week and won them both in straight sets. Round one saw him get past Denis Shapovalov and then he beat J J Wolf. Seven games were lost in both of those matches. Those wins have taken him to 48th and a win here could see him set a new career-high of 43rd. Giron needed this run as he'd lost his three previous matches, all on hard courts. He had shown good form before that with a final in Dallas and quarter final in Delray Beach. On clay, Giron has twice reached round three at Roland Garros and won seven of his 13 matches last year.

Luciano Darderi caused a shock in round two when beating second seed Francisco Cerundolo in three sets, losing the middle one. In the first round he also needed three sets coming from behind to beat Denis Kudla. Those wins have taken him up to a new best of 67th in the live list. Before this tournament he had some success on the South American clay court tour with a title won in Cordoba and had to win seven matches to do so. The last eight was also reached in Santiago and we believe he can get to the semi-final in Houston.