With the Sunshine Double coming off to a thrilling end in Miami, players hardly have any breathing space this season. The action has swiftly moved on to the clay-court season, with three ATP 250 tournaments taking place this week. One such tournament is the US Men’s Clay Court Championship, where the local star, Frances Tiafoe, is a hot favorite. He opens his campaign against a formidable opponent.

Tiafoe will take on James Duckworth of Australia in the round of 16 clash in Houston. While the weather will be expected to be cloudy with chances of rain, the match promises to be a thrilling one fans can’t miss.

Frances Tiafoe vs James Duckworth: Preview

Tiafoe’s stocks have dropped significantly this season. The American tennis star has been having an inconsistent run across the tournaments this year. At the Australian Open in January, he suffered a shock defeat against Tomas Machac in the second round. His best result this season has been a semifinal appearance at the Dallas Open. Further, Tiafoe is entering the tournament in Houston on the back of a second-round exit in Miami. Thus, he will look to bounce back strongly as he steps onto the clay court.

On the other hand, 32-year-old Duckworth is a seasoned professional but clearly past his peak. He has played both on the ATP Tour as well as the Challenger Tour this year. Like Tiafoe, he made an early exit from the Australian Open this year. Similarly, his best result has been a semifinal appearance, albeit on the Challenger Tour. The two players will look to find form when they go up against each other.

Tiafoe vs Duckworth: Head-to-Head

With both the players having been on the tour for a long time, it is natural to cross paths. Tiafoe and Duckworth have faced each other thrice, with the Australian star having the upper hand by winning two of those matches. They haven’t played each other in recent times though, with their last meeting coming in January 2016. As a result, despite Tiafoe having an inferior head-to-head record against Duckworth, he looks like the favorite to win this contest.

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Prediction: Tiafoe to have it easy against Duckworth

Playing in Houston, Tiafoe will have the strong support of the local crowd. He is predicted to win the match in straight sets against Duckworth and level their head-to-head battle. Their match will take place in the Stadium later today.