Preview Steve Johnson vs Evgeny Donskoy Tennis Prediction
Steve Johnson leads the H2H against Evgeny Donskoy by 2-0 (both in 2016). Johnson is easily the better player of these two, especially in the US conditions, but it’s the Russian who has made a better start to the season (comparatively) while the American is really struggling to replicate his form from the previous seasons, which makes this an even contest.
Evgeny Donskoy Tennis Prediction
Evgeny Donskoy progressed to his first quarterfinal of the season by scoring a straight-set win over the former Delray Beach runner-up and semifinalist (2015 & 2017) Donald Young (7-6 6-3). It was also the Russian’s second straight-sets win of the week, having previously defeated Darian King 6-4 6-2.
The last time Evgeny Donskoy won two main draw matches on tour was at ATP Dubai in February 2017, when he shocked Roger Federer in the second round before losing to Lucas Pouille in the quarterfinal.
Steve Johnson Tennis Prediction
Steve Johnson broke a struggling Milos Raonic thrice in the match to secure his progression to the quarterfinal, for the first time in 2018. The American made a poor start to the season by losing five of his opening six matches, but he got lucky with the draw this week as he was drawn against two struggling opponents in Nikoloz Basilashvili and Milos Raonic.
Steven Johnson made nine quarterfinal appearances in 2017 and managed to win just two of them. The World #51 failed to win any of his recent four quarterfinal matches with one of those defeats coming against a Russian opponent at Eastbourne (vs. Medvedev).
Additionally, Johnson has made the quarterfinals thrice here at Delray Beach and failed on two occasions, against Ivo Karlovic (2015) and Jack Sock (2017). However, considering the players he faced in the quarterfinals over the past 12 months, Evgeny Donskoy should be his easiest opponent.
Our Tennis Prediction
Steve Johnson to win
Odds: 1.55 Bet365
