The ATP Stuttgart quarterfinal matches are here! The final eight go to battle in Stuttgart with a trip to the semifinals on the line. Who will come out on top and who will go home? Read on to find out!
ATP Stuttgart Quarterfinal Predictions
Denis Kudla vs Matteo Berrettini
Head to Head: 3-2 Kudla
Denis Kudla battles Matteo Berrettini with a trip to the semifinals at stake. After easily beating Galovic in the first match, Kudla won a third set tiebreak to beat Gael Monfils to make the final eight. Kudla showed great composure in recovering from a break down in the third set against Monfils to set up his showdown with Berrettini. Berrettini has been very impressive in Stuttgart, not dropping a set all tournament. Against Karen Khachanov in the second round, Berrettini did not even face a break point all match.
Kudla leads the head to head 3-2, although they have split their two matches in 2019. Kudla is very good on grass, having an excellent understanding of point construction on the surface. Berrettini’s huge serve, and powerful forehand are working extremely well this week, and getting through his service games so easily allows Berrettini to relax and go for his return games. Expect Berrettini to overpower Kudla and continue his success in Stuttgart.
Prediction: Berrettini in 2
Jan-Lennard Struff vs Lucas Pouille
Head to Head: 3-1 Pouille
Jan-Lennard Struff takes on Lucas Pouille in the Stuttgart quarterfinals. Struff has rolled through his opening two matches in Stuttgart. The German is serving very well, having not been broken in four sets this tournament. Struff has extended his great form from the clay court season onto the grass. Lucas Pouille is starting to regain form, and he has come through two three-setters to reach the quarterfinals. After surviving a final set tiebreak against Feliciano Lopez, Pouille won an easier third set to beat Daniil Medvedev, in a match in which the court conditions in Stuttgart were questioned.
Pouille leads the head to head 3-1, including a 2-0 record on grass against Struff. However, both of those matches on grass went to third sets. Despite the head to head, given Struff’s form, it is hard to pick against him. He’s playing with the controlled aggression necessary to succeed on grass, and while Pouille has a good sense of how to set up points on grass, Struff is confident and should be able to hit through the Frenchman.
Prediction: Struff in 3
Marton Fucsovics vs Milos Raonic
Head to Head: 1-0 Raonic
A semifinal berth in Stuttgart is on the line as Marton Fucsovics battles Milos Raonic. Fucsovics was able to fend off three match points and beat Nikoloz Basilashvili. Fucsovics was able to fend off Basilashvili’s huge groundstrokes and counterpunch well in order to reach the quarterfinals. Raonic has survived two tight three-setters to reach this stage in the tournament. He beat Jo-Wilfred Tsonga in a third set tiebreak in the previous round, to extend his first tournament back from injury.
Raonic leads the head to head 1-0. That matchup was on the grass in Stuttgart last year, with Raonic winning comfortably in straight sets. Both players have had to play through tight matches to get here, and are comfortable playing in matches that come down to the wire. However, on the grass, it is safer to trust Raonic’s big serve, huge forehand, and prowess at the net. Raonic moves on.
Prediction: Raonic in 3
Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Dustin Brown
Head to Head: Never Played
A trip to the semifinals is at stake when Felix Auger-Aliassime plays Dustin Brown. Auger-Aliassime had a very impressive straight sets win over Dustin Brown. Auger-Aliassime served huge and used an all-court game to baffle Simon. He was able to hang in there during the rallies, and then took advantage of the openings as they came. Dustin Brown upset World No. 5 Alexander Zverev in his previous match. Brown hit almost every shot in the book as he stunned Zverev to make the quarterfinals.
These two have never matched up before. Auger-Aliassime is still inexperienced on grass, and against a seasoned grass-courter like Brown, that is a recipe for trouble. However, nothing seems to be phasing Auger-Aliassime this week. He has been very impressive in adapting his game to the grass. His ability to move up in the court and attack from the net has been particularly impressive this tournament. Auger-Aliassime is making me a believer.
Prediction: Auger-Aliassime in 3
Main Photo from Getty
Disagree with our predictions for the ATP Stuttgart Quarterfinal matches? Let us know what you think in the comments.
