Houston 2023: J.J. Wolf vs Jordan Thompson preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick

Fixture: (5) J.J. Wolf vs Jordan Thompson

Tournament:Fayez Sarofim and Co. U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship 2023

Date: Monday, April 3

Round: First Round (Round of 32)

Venue: Royal Oaks Country Club, Houston, USA

Surface: Outdoor clay

Prize money: $642,735

Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel/ UK - Amazon Prime Video

J.J. Wolf vs Jordan Thompson preview

Fifth seed J.J. Wolf opens his 2023 U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship campaign in Houston against Jordan Thompson.

The 50th-ranked Wolf is 9-6 on the season, having lost in the second round of the Miami Open a week ago. He was coming off first-round exits at Indian Wells and Acapulco.

After opening his season with a Round of 16 run at the ASB Classic in Auckland, the 24-year-old made the Australian Open fourth round, where he lost to compatriot Ben Shelton in five sets. Wolf continued his good form on North American hardcourts, making the semifinals in Dallas (lost to John Isner) and the Round of 16 in Delray Beach.

Having made the Round of 16 on his Houston debut last year, the American will look to make a similar run and return to winning ways after an early exit in Miami.

Meanwhile, World No. 83 Thompson's struggles in 2023 continued as he slumped to his sixth loss in nine matches, losing in the Miami Open first round after emerging from qualifying. The Australian's three wins this year have come at Dallas and Indian Wells, where he reached the third round. Thompson is 3-3 in Houston, making the quarterfinals in 2019.

J.J. Wolf vs Jordan Thompson head-to-head

Wolf won his lone meeting with Thompson in four sets in the first round of this year's Australian Open, so their head-to-head record reads 1-0 in favor of the American.

J.J. Wolf vs Jordan Thompson odds

(The odds will be updated when they release)

J.J. Wolf vs Jordan Thompson prediction

Both Wolf and Thompson are quintessential baseliners and tend to play their best tennis on hardcourts.

The two players have strong serves and hit powerfully off either flank - attributes that don't necessarily pay as much dividends on clay as they do on hardcourts. Moreover, their only meeting came on the faster surface earlier this year.

While Wolf has had a better season than Thompson, the Australian has had a better run in Houston. It's a close matchup to call, but going by recent form, Wolf should take this one.