The Memphis Open gets underway on Monday with fifth-ranked Kei Nishikori, the top played in the field, in action. There are 28 players in this tournament that runs through Feb. 15 on the indoor hard courts in Memphis. Let’s take a look at this ATP World Tour 250 event and tennis picks.
Top 20 Players
There are three top 20 players in the field in Memphis led by Nishikori. The other two players are 15th-ranked Kevin Anderson and 18th-ranked John Isner.
Kei Nishikori
It is easy to make a case for Nishikori winning this event as he is the two-time defending champion. He is coming off a strong 2014 season that saw him win four times. He made his first Grand Slam final at the U.S. Open in 2014 and he reached the quarters at the Australian Open last month.
Kevin Anderson
If Nishikori doesn’t win this event then Anderson should as he is playing his best tennis. He is up to #15 in the world, his highest ranking ever. He still only has two career wins, in Johannesburg in 2011 and Delray Beach in 2012 but he is poised for a big 2015 season.
John Isner
The top American player in the world has won nine times in his career and enters this event ranked 18th in the world. He finished second in this event in 2010. Isner won three singles titles last year but he has yet to make his mark in Grand Slam events with his best showing coming in 2011 when he reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open.
Other Contenders
Other players who could make a run in this tournament are Sam Querrey who won this event in 2010 and Ivo Karlovic who finished second in this tournament last year.
Tennis Picks
I will go against the favored Nishikori and go instead with Anderson to win this tournament.
2015 Memphis Open Player Field
No. 5 Kei Nishikori (JPN)
No. 15 Kevin Anderson (RSA)
No. 18 John Isner (USA)
No. 24 Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR)
No. 25 Ivo Karlovic (CRO)
No. 37 Steve Johnson (USA)
No. 39 Benjamin Becker (GER)
No. 41 Adrian Mannarino (FRA)
No. 42 Sam Querrey (USA)
No. 48 Bernard Tomic (AUS)
No. 51 Jack Sock (USA)
No. 52 Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE)
No. 53 Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ)
No. 64 Donald Young (USA)
No. 65 Malek Jaziri (TUN)
No. 70 Sam Groth (AUS)
No. 79 Marinko Matosevic (AUS)
No. 81 Teymuraz Gabashvili (RUS)
No. 100 Igor Sijsling (NED)
No. 178 Jared Donaldson – wild card
No. 412 Stefan Kozlov (USA) – wild card
