Day five at the ATP Washington Open will see the eight men left in the draw battle for a place in the semifinals. With the main headliner of the tournament, Rafael Nadal, already eliminated and on his way to Toronto, just one of the remaining players has won an ATP 500 tournament, with all other seven players vying for the biggest title of their career to date. But who will book their place in the semifinals?
ATP Washington Quarterfinal Predictions
Kei Nishikori vs Lloyd Harris
Head-to-head: Harris 1-0 Nishikori
Their one previous meeting came earlier this year in Dubai, Lloyd Harris’s best career tournament to date. Back then, the South African won a very close three setter, but Kei Nishikori has improved since, showing signs that a return to the top echelons of the game might be on the cards for him. Harris should be full of confidence after his incredible win over Nadal, but he might also be a little fatigued, especially mentally, after notching such a huge win, the biggest of his career so far. Nishikori is a much more complete player and has been showing some signs of the level that made him a top five player in the not so distant past; he should have the upper hand here.
Prediction: Nishikori in 2
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John Millman vs Jenson Brooksby
Head-to-head: Millman 1-0 Brooksby
Jenson Brooksby has been having an incredible summer and will be looking to continue it with a first semifinal at ATP-500 level. Wins over Kevin Anderson and Felix Auger-Aliassime will surely filled him with confidence and belief. The previous match between the pair ended in a very comfortable win for John Millman at US Open 2018, but the American was 17-years-old at the time whilst Millman was in possibly the best form of his career. Things are very different now and Brooksby might well have enough to bring down Millman’s tenacious defences. Millman did notch an impressive win over Opelka, but it’s clear that the American giant is a great matchup for the Aussie, who’s now 3-0 against him. The unorthodox Brooksby should prove a more difficult assignment.
Prediction: Brooksby in 2
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Jannik Sinner vs Steve Johnson
Head-to-head: Sinner 1-0 Johnson
Jannik Sinner has been struggling considerably ever since losing the final in Miami to Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, but he has shown some signs of enjoying a resurgence this week at the ATP Washington Open. He played some good quality tennis in the third round against Sebastian Korda and he showed great poise under pressure to dig out the win. Steve Johnson best days are behind him, but he can still be dangerous in favourable conditions and he has been playing some good tennis of late, including upsetting the third seed Alex de Minaur in the second round. This match will clearly be on Sinner’s racket, however, and the Italian should have the edge.
Prediction: Sinner in 2
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Mackenzie McDonald vs Denis Kudla
Head-to-head: McDonald 3-2 Kudla
Although this will be their sixth overall meeting, it’ll be the first time they have clashed at ATP-level with their previous five matches having all come at Challengers. Both players have a chance to achieve something significant here by reaching semifinal or possibly further at an ATP 500 event on home soil and will doubtless do absolutely everything in their power to get across the line here. But Denis Kudla’s superior experience might prove to be the (small) difference once the dust has settled.
Prediction: Kudla in 3
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