Only 16 players remain in the draw of ATP Chengdu Open 2019 with no clear-cut favorite for the title. The round of 16 matches are on Thursday and we are predicting every one of those matches. It’ll be an exciting finish here at Chengdu but firstly who makes the last eight?
ATP Chengdu Open Day 4 Predictions
Benoit Paire vs Pablo Carreno Busta
Head to head – Paire 8-3 Carreno Busta
It’s a rivalry which has been recently dominated by the Frenchman, who won the last five previous meetings. Although none of them have been straightforward, Benoit Paire found a way to get past Pablo Carreno Busta every single time.
Coming into this match, Paire has definitely had the better year winning two titles on the tour. There is something that Carreno Busta doesn’t like about Paire’s game and while the Spaniard did look good in his first round, it’ll be a tough challenge for him to turnaround this recently lopsided rivalry.
Prediction: Paire in 3
John Isner vs Egor Gerasimov
Head to head – First Meeting
Egor Gerasimov is a tricky first-round matchup for John Isner. The Belorussian, playing on a special exempt because of his semifinal run at St. Petersburg, looked good even in his loss to eventual champion Daniil Medvedev.
Isner needs to be wary of Gerasimov but the American brings some good form of his own if the Laver Cup is anything to go by. He played extremely well to defeat Zverev and gave a tough fight to Roger Federer as well. Expect the big-serving American to find a way to get through this tricky matchup.
Prediction: Isner in 3
Joao Sousa vs Felix Auger-Aliassime
Head to head – First Meeting
Canadian No. 1 Felix Auger-Aliassime doesn’t have a lot of recent match wins and Joao Sousa would know that. The Portuguese himself has blown hot and cold this year but he did the reach the semi-finals at St. Petersburg losing a three-setter to Borna Coric.
Matchup wise, both players are comfortable on the baseline but the Canadian has the better serve and isn’t afraid to close out points at the net. But with his recent lack of form and confidence, Auger-Aliassime will find it tough to push Sousa away who did look good against Hyeon Chung.
Prediction: Sousa in 2
Grigor Dimitrov vs Daniel Evans
Head to head – Dimitrov 1-1 Evans
The US Open 2019 semi-finalist, Grigor Dimitrov takes to the court for the first time in Chengdu against Daniel Evans. The Bulgarian has had a tremendous turnaround to his 2019 tennis season and will surely be looking to keep the momentum going.
Evans looked scratchy at times against Yan Bai eventually winning in a third-set tiebreaker. Evans had beaten Dimitrov before three years ago in Washington but it’s a rejuvenated Dimitrov right now. It’s tough seeing Evans having a say in this match if Dimitrov brings his highest level of motivation and tennis.
Prediction: Dimitrov in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
