We have reached the quarterfinal stage of the ATP National Bank Open (formerly known as the Rogers Cup) in Toronto. Which of the eight remaining men will take the title? Who will advance to the quarterfinal? As always, we share our thoughts on all four matches.
ATP Toronto Quarterfinal Predictions
Casper Ruud vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
Head-to-head: Ruud 1-1 Tsitsipas
Casper Ruud started his Toronto campaign with a tough three-set win against Marin Cilic. He then outclassed Dusan Lajovic in straight sets. Finally, Ruud can be content that he will not be called a clay-court star who can’t play on fast surfaces. But it will be a big step to defeat Tsitsipas. Let’s see if he can take it. Stefanos Tsitsipas had some problems adjusting to the pace of the court, in his match against Ugo Humbert, where framed shots terribly in the second set. But once he was settled, there was no stopping him from banging forehands. Tsitsipas then routed Karen Khachanov in straight sets to book a quarterfinal birth.
To put it plainly, Casper Ruud doesn’t have a great serve. He hit a total of ten aces in his first two matches–which is rather low in Toronto. Also, on his second serve, Ruud’s chances of winning the point are only fifty-fifty, which is not helped by the fact that he has a below-par first-serve percentage. The serve part is of vital importance on fast courts, and Ruud is lacking there. Tsitsipas is looking good on the serve and forehand part. The long rallies were going to be a challenge for him, but he had no difficulty whatsoever in rallying in his matches so far. It looks like Tsitsipas is back to form finally. However well Ruud might be playing, but it seems that he can’t challenge Tsitsipas here at Toronto as yet.
Prediction: Tsitsipas in 2
Roberto Bautista Agut vs Reilly Opelka
Head-to-head: Bautista Agut 2-1 Opelka
Roberto Bautista Agut had a comfortable straight-set win against Tommy Paul, which set the stone rolling. He carried the momentum in his match against Diego Schwartzman, coming on top in the thriller after saving three match points. He will carry his form to the next round against Reilly Opelka. Opelka, being unseeded, had to work his way through three tough opponents. He showed great composure in the tiebreaks against Nick Kyrgios, and also against Lloyd Harris when he saved a match point to enter the quarterfinals.
Bautista Agut’s match against Schwartzman was a classic case of when two clay courters meet on hard courts. The three-set match had a total of seven aces being hit. Also, both of them were winning a lot of points on the return, and the match had an embarrassing total of eleven service breaks. Opelka will not give away easy serves the way Schwartzman did, and it will be a big challenge for Bautista Agut to make the returns in the first place. Opelka has an incredible first-serve percentage, coupled with a great backhand. I feel that Opelka will prevail in this encounter, but Bautista Agut might sneak a set owing to his experience.
Prediction: Opelka in 3
John Isner vs Gael Monfils
Head-to-head: Isner 5-7 Monfils
John Isner, being unseeded, had to play three matches to reach the quarterfinal. Isner had to take little effort in doing so, as he hit an average of twenty aces per match. His last match, in which he upset Andrey Rublev, showcased with ability to hang on in crunch situations, reminding us that “big John” is not finished. He will be very high on confidence now. On the other side, Gael Monfils took some efforts to tame John Millman, in a match where he hit nine double faults. The next match was all vintage Monfils, as he broke Tiafoe twice to win the first set easily, before showing great poise in the next, to take it in the tiebreak.
The pair, aged 36 and 34, played their first match years back in 2007. So much has changed from their first meeting, when no one could have imagined a Masters quarterfinals without the “Big 4.” Fourteen years down the line, here we are, with both Isner and Monfils at the end of their careers. Still, both of them have the fire inside their belly, hungry for success. Though Monfils leads the head-to-head by two wins, Isner looks better than him, at least at Toronto right now. Isner should prevail in a clash of old guards.
Prediction: Isner in 3
Daniil Medvedev vs Hubert Hurkacz
Head-to-head: Medvedev 0-1 Hurkacz
Medvedev had a relatively easy draw as compared to others, one of the perks of being the top seed. That aside, we have to acknowledge that he was clinical in his performances against Alexander Bublik and James Duckworth–though Bublik won a set, Medvedev bounced back with ease. This match will be a real test for Medvedev, against an opponent who beat him at Wimbledon. Hubert Hurkacz, though not being handed an easy draw, had an easy path to the quarterfinals, as he had to play only one match to make it due to Nishikori’s withdrawal. Hurkacz will try to get another win against Medvedev and extend the lead, while Medvedev will be hungry for revenge.
Hurkacz, though not having a great first-serve percentage, has a very healthy amount of points won on the first serve. In his only match this tournament, he has hit 22 aces. On hard courts, Hurkacz is always a dangerous player. He not only has winners in his bag, but also defends very well when needed. Medvedev also looked flawless in his match against Duckworth, but it remains to be seen whether flawless enough to beat Hurkacz. Medvedev will have to play extremely aggressive tennis to come on top against Hurkacz. I feel that Medvedev will have his revenge this time.
Prediction: Medvedev in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
