On August 17, 2025, Brandon Holt will face Mackenzie McDonald in the opening round of the Winston-Salem Open at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. This ATP 250 event features a hard-court surface, with the winner advancing to face the tournament’s third seed, Luciano Darderi. Holt enters the match as a wildcard, challenging McDonald’s experience and ranking at this early stage.
Player Form and Recent Performance
Mackenzie McDonald has experienced a challenging season, holding an 8-10 win-loss record so far. His North American hard-court campaign began at the Citi DC Open where he recorded a straight-sets victory over Colton Smith before falling to Ben Shelton in the second round of the ATP 500. Subsequently, at the Canadian Open, McDonald showcased strong serving to defeat David Goffin in the first round, only to be eliminated by Jiri Lehecka in round two. His run at the Cincinnati Open ended prematurely with a first-round loss.
Brandon Holt, by contrast, has stood out primarily on the Challenger circuit this year, clinching titles at the Challenger events in Nonthaburi and Bengaluru. However, Holt has limited exposure at the ATP Tour level, with just one main draw victory to his name from the Mallorca Championships. Recently, he skipped both the Washington and Canadian Opens, and at Cincinnati, Holt lost to Tristan Boyer in the first round, marking his fourth early exit this season.
Previous Encounters Between Holt and McDonald
This match will mark the first time Brandon Holt and Mackenzie McDonald meet on the ATP Tour. Their only prior contest occurred during the 2025 Australian Open qualifiers, where McDonald won in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. With no official tour-level head-to-head, this encounter adds an element of uncertainty and intrigue.
Match Odds and Expectations
According to BetMGM odds, McDonald is favored to advance, though specific figures remain pending. The closeness of the contest is highlighted by both players’ recent struggles: McDonald’s win percentage on hard courts stands at a modest 40%, while Holt is still seeking his breakthrough win at this level on similar surfaces.
Analyzing Who Might Prevail
Despite Holt’s impressive Challenger results, his lack of main tour experience and multiple first-round losses this season make him the underdog. McDonald’s form has been inconsistent, but his baseline resilience and mobility on court provide a slight advantage. This match is expected to be tightly contested, with McDonald’s steadier tour-level play likely making the difference over three sets.
Prediction: Mackenzie McDonald to win in a hard-fought three-set match.