The second quarterfinal day at the inaugural ATP Cup before the final four teams are locked down. So far we know Team __ and __ have secured their places from earlier on. But who will join them?
ATP Cup Quarterfinal Predictions
Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Dusan Lajovic
Head-to-head: First meeting
This should be a close match between the pair. Auger-Aliassime has proved in this ATP Cup that he still has a lot to learn and develop in his game. The Canadian teenager has only managed to win one match so far which was against the lower-ranked Michail Pervolarakis. However, when faced with a slightly more experienced opponent like John Millman and Jan-Lennard Struff, the 19-year-old’s game was found out.
Lajovic, one of the more experienced players on tour, will break down his game slowly. Expect this match to go the distance. And also expect Lajovic to win this one in a grinding match.
Prediction: Lajovic in 3
Steve Darcis vs Roberto Bautista-Agut
Head-to-head: Bautista-Agut leads 1-0
This will be a big test for Darcis, who is playing his penultimate event, as he plans to retire at the Australian Open this month. He will face the Spaniard, Roberto Bautista-Agut who has won all his matches without dropping a set thus far.
The biggest problem for Darcis will be to break down the Spaniard’s game. But with Darcis playing on the Challenger Circuit for the majority of 2019, will he be able to be match-fit in terms of playing an opponent that one of the world’s best?
Prediction: Bautista-Agut in 2
Novak Djokovic vs Denis Shapovalov
Head-to-head: Djokovic leads 4-0
Shapovalov has been almighty impressive so far in the ATP Cup. The Canadian youngster has beaten both Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas so far and will be looking to replicate those performances against the current world no. 2 Novak Djokovic.
It could be a fascinating match considering how much Shapovalov has improved the since the US Open in September. Their most recent meeting was in the Paris Masters final just a couple months ago, where Djokovic won in straight sets. It could be a similar result again here in Sydney. Djokovic will tempt Shapovalov to go for the low-percentage shots which will cause errors and to be the youngster’s downfall.
Prediction: Djokovic in 2
Rafael Nadal vs David Goffin
Head-to-head: Nadal leads 4-1
Rafael Nadal has yet to be troubled so far in the ATP Cup. The Spaniard emerged victorious in all his matches thus far and is yet to drop a set in singles.
Goffin could be a tricky player, but can the Belgian keep up that level of high consistency and intensity for the whole match? What most likely will happen is that Goffin will play a high level of intensity to keep up with Nadal for the first half of the match. But then his level will drop off slightly, as most players do. At this time, Nadal will come out on top and break down the Belgian’s game.
Prediction: Nadal in 2
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