Day four at the Halle Open brings with it the second half of the round of 16 and what should be a thrilling day of tennis. A number of big guns are in action in Saxony-Anhalt, including world #3 Roger Federer and top-ranked German Alexander Zverev. But who will book their place in the quarterfinals?
Halle Open Day 4 Predictions
Alexander Zverev vs Steve Johnson
Head-to-head: Johnson 1-0 Zverev
Alexander Zverev has been posting some impressive results of late, winning the Geneva Open before reaching the last eight at Roland Garros. It was a much-needed upturn in form from the German, who will surely be hoping to continue it with a deep run at the Halle Open, where he has twice reached the final. He undeniably played well in beating the tricky Robin Haase in the first round 6-4 7-5, but will need to be at his sharpest again up against Steve Johnson.
The American dispatched Philipp Kohlschreiber with ease, 6-3 6-3, and has a game well-suited to grass-court tennis thanks to his wicked slice backhand and powerful forehand. That said, he plays fairly similarly to Haase, meaning that Zverev should be well-prepared for this contest. Serving, particularly double faults, have been a real problem for the world #5 lately, but if it is one he can control, he should be able to overpower Johnson in front of his home fans.
Prediction: Zverev in three.
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Richard Gasquet vs Roberto Bautista Agut
Head-to-head: Bautista Agut 2-1 Gasquet
On his day, Richard Gasquet is one of the better grass-courters in the men’s game, as evidenced by his two appearances in the last four at Wimbledon. But the Frenchman has struggled to find his best tennis for much of this year after a succession of injuries. His first-round win over Peter Gojowczyk was one of his better matches of the year, but Roberto Bautista Agut will present a stern test. The seventh seed is having another excellent year and will back himself to outlast Gasquet, surely short of match fitness, even if he cannot hit him off the court.
Prediction: Bautista Agut in three.
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Matteo Berrettini vs Andreas Seppi
Head-to-head: Seppi 1-0 Berrettini
Stuttgart Open champion Matteo Berrettini will be hoping to continue his excellent run of form when he takes on his compatriot Andreas Seppi at the Halle Open. Seppi, who qualified into the main draw, has had some good results in Halle in the past, notably reaching the final in 2015, but he will be up against it in this clash. Berrettini’s formidable power, both from the line and off the ground, alone makes him a fearsome opponent, but he has also shown an impressive affinity for the more subtle shots that are so well-rewarded on a grass court. He is an opponent none will relish facing and expect him to prove too strong for Seppi.
Prediction: Berrettini in two.
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Roger Federer vs Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
Head-to-head: Federer 11-6 Tsonga
Besides Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, few men have enjoyed as much success against the great Roger Federer as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The Frenchman has beaten Federer six times, including from two-sets down in the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2011 and in the Canadian Open final in 2014. He also won their last match, in the Monte Carlo Masters quarterfinals three years ago. However, Federer has still won 11 of their 17 previous matches and will come into this clash as the heavy favourite.
He was not at his awe-inspiring best against John Millman in the first round, but he played some fine tennis when he needed it to secure a 7-6 6-3 win. Tsonga, meanwhile, dispatched his countryman Benoit Paire 7-5 6-4. The Frenchman’s thunderous serve and powerful forehand should allow him to do some real damage to Federer. But his backhand remains shaky and he cannot match Federer’s accuracy in any department. Expect some great rallies, but for the nine-time champion to come out on top in most of them.
Prediction: Federer in two.
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