Citi Open 2022: Mackenzie McDonald vs. Emil Ruusuvuori Tennis Pick and Prediction

TennisSection previews the 2022 Citi Open as Mackenzie McDonald takes on Emil Ruusuvuori in the Round of 64 on Tuesday, August 2nd, 2022.

Will Mackenzie McDonald begin his final defense? Will Emil Ruusuvuori make strides in Washington? This will be a fascinating one, where we have two opportunistic and talented players facing off. Who will triumph and move on to the Round of 32 at the 2022 Citi Open?

Mackenzie McDonald had a great tournament here last year, losing the final to Jannik Sinner in 3 tough, close sets. Emil Ruusuvuori won’t be an easy first round opponent as he looks to kick things off. I don’t love Ruusuvuori on defense, and I think McDonald will have the tactics going into this one, but he doesn’t really have the matches under his belt lately, still, I think the conditions for him are gonna settle in and he’ll be the man to beat in this first round encounter at the 2022 Citi Open.

Emil Ruusuvuori will be liking the conditions during the North American swing, and he’ll be an underrated name among the dangerous list of players on the hard courts. Having said that, he’s still got quite the roadblock ahead of him in Mackenzie McDonald. In order to take him out, he’s going to have to not allow McDonald to rush the net and go for quick points, he’ll want the longer rallies and to wear out the American if he wants a shot at the Round of 32 at the 2022 Citi Open.

Mackenzie McDonald and Emil Ruusuvuori have met twice before, with the head to head being tied at 1-1. Their first meeting came on the clay, which surprisingly went to McDonald. Ruusuvuori took him out in Atlanta last season though, so we could be in for a spicy one. Still though, I don’t see Ruusuvuori having much of a shot to win it in the end as McDonald looks ahead to the Round of 32 at the 2022 Citi Open.