The lineup of the final eight contestants for the 2020 ATP Qatar Open is complete. Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the 2012 champion, became the first big name casualty on Day 3 when he fell in straight sets to NextGen star Miomir Kecmanovic. That means we are guaranteed a new winner in Doha at the first ATP 250 of the season.
Who will advance to the semifinals? Here are our thoughts.
ATP Qatar Open Quarterfinal Predictions
Miomir Kecmanovic vs Marton Fucsovics
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Miomir Kecmanovic produced a terrific straight-sets win over 2012 champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to make the quarterfinals on his debut appearance in Doha. The Next Gen star saved three set points in the first set ans subsequently won it in the tiebreak. He completed the rout in the second set to oust the Frenchman.
Kecmanovic’s reward is a meeting against Hungarian qualifier Marton Fucsovics. Fucosvics picked up his fourth win of the week including two qualifiers, when he beat Cem Ilkel. Fucosvics who usually excels on the clay courts as evidenced with his lone title win on the surface, has taken a particular liking of the hard courts in Doha. He took a set off Novak Djokovic last year in a second round defeat. And despite his woeful form on the surface in 2019, he seems to be on a roll right now.
Prediction: Fucsovics in 3
Stan Wawrinka vs Aljaz Bedene
Head-to-Head: Wawrinka 3-1 Bedene
Stan Wawrinka extended his perfect record against Jeremy Chardy to 7-0 with a dominant 6-3 6-4 win over the Frenchman on Tuesday. The top seed is the overwhelming favorite to take the title on Saturday and he will be facing a familiar opponent in Aljaz Bedene in his quarterfinal.
Wawrinka and Bedene will meet for the fifth time on tour and a fourth time in opening week of the season. They met three straight times in Chennai between 2013 – 2015, splitting their first two matches before the Swiss triumphed in the 2015 final.
The three-time Major winner has his eyes on the prize. After losing two very close finals last year, he will be determined in his pursuit for his first title post-surgery.
Prediction: Wawrinka in 2
Andrey Rublev vs Pierre-Hugues Herbert
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Andrey Rublev seems past his injury nightmare, and a successful week in Doha could culminate in him entering the Top 20 for the first time in his career. The Russian who is former finalist in Qatar (lost to Monfils in 2018), had only shown glimpses of his talent when he burst onto the scene during the 2017 season. He captured his maiden ATP tour title in Umag and reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time at the US Open. The Russian struggled to match the thrills of his breakout season the following year as he suffered from a stress fracture in his back. He confessed to falling into depression, but still remained persistent and hopeful of returning to full fitness.
Rublev enjoyed a career-best season in 2019, winning his first title since the aforementioned success in Umag at the Kremlin Cup last October. Already at a career-high ranking of World No.23, the Russian will look to secure his place in the semifinal when he plays Pierre-Hugues Herbert. The big-serving Frenchman hit a rough patch on a singles court in 2019 and it was no surprise to see him join hands with Nicolas Mahut at Nitto ATP Finals. Herbert is unlikely to cause Rublev plenty of trouble from baseline rallies and he will instead look at the opportunity to play short points with his booming serve. But Rublev’s power should be too much to handle.
Prediction: Rublev in 2
Fernando Verdasco vs Corentin Moutet
Head-to-Head: First meeting
The last of the day’s action will see Fernando Verdasco looking to make his first semifinal in Doha since 2017. The veteran Spaniard who resides in Qatar, beat Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic with a display of immense ball-striking. He will meet the highly talented young Frenchman Corentin Moutet who scored a major upset on Wednesday evening in beating Milos Raonic in two tiebreak sets. Moutet was relentless from the get go against the Canadian, chasing every ball and always looking to move his opponent with deft drop shots. While that pattern worked like a charm against Raonic who is not the most agile player on tour, Verdasco will look to dictate points from the back of the court and nullify Moutet’s imagination. Expect the 36-year-old to edge this encounter.
Prediction: Verdasco in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
Disagree with our ATP Qatar Open Quarterfinal Predictions? As always, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.
