It’s quarterfinal day at the ATP Metz Open and the big names have mostly survived to reach the last eight to set up a fascinating day of tennis in north-eastern France. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule. But who will reach the semifinals?
ATP Metz Quarterfinal Predictions
Marcos Giron vs Peter Gojowczyk
Head-to-head: first meeting
When the day begun it’s safe to say few could have expected this quarterfinal with Marcos Giron playing Alex de Minaur and Peter Gojowczyk playing Olympic silver medallist Karen Khachanov. Not only did both men cause upsets, but they both won in straight sets. Now it’s a real chance for both these men to make the semifinals here. Based off recent form, however, the advantage is surely Gojowczyk’s. The German has not only come through the qualifying this week, but is also coming off reaching the second week at the US Open as a qualifier. The 32-year-old is no doubt playing some of the best tennis of his career and also has a fine record in Metz. Expect him to have the edge.
Prediction: Gojowczyk in 3
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Hubert Hurkacz vs Andy Murray
Head-to-head: Hurkacz 1-0 Murray
The world #13 against the world #113 is no doubt the match of the round, despite the disparity in their respective rankings. On paper, and not least because Hubert Hurkacz beat Andy Murray in straight sets in Cincinnati only last month, the Pole must be considered the favourite heading into this match. But since losing the opening set in the first round against Ugo Humbert, Murray has looked sharp in the four sets he has played since.
The issue for Murray is that fast indoor courts are exactly what brings Hurkacz’s strengths – an accurate serve and good net game – to the fore. With no disrespect to Giron and Gojowczyk, the winner of this is surely the heavy favourite to make the final and that perhaps puts more pressure on the 34-year-old who hasn’t made an ATP final in almost two years. Hurkacz should prove too strong.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 3
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Gael Monfils vs Nikoloz Basilashvili
Head-to-head: Monfils 1-0 Basilashvili
A really nice clash of styles is on the cards here. Gael Monfils usually is quite defensive – though he doesn’t want for power – whilst Nikoloz Basilashvili is almost always the polar opposite. Whilst the Frenchman still isn’t the player he was, with the pandemic appearing to have disrupted his game more than most, he’s been improving notably over the past month or two. He has also enjoyed many of his best results playing at home in France. Expect him to deliver once again on home turf and keep just enough balls in play to extract the required number of unforced errors from Basilashvili.
Prediction: Monfils in 2
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Pablo Carreno Busta vs Holger Rune
Head-to-head: first meeting
Holger Rune continues to surprise, pulling off a fantastic win over fifth seed Lorenzo Sonego in the second round. But now, up against the second seed Pablo Carreno Busta, this is perhaps a mountain too high for the teenager to climb. Unlike in Rune’s first two matches, where he faced an opponent on the other side of the net that he could grind down, the Spaniard is about as obdurate as they come. Indeed, it would be no surprise if instead of Rune grinding him down, Carreno Busta does that to Rune. If anything this is a good test of where the Dane’s game is at. If he can just stay competitive it would say even more about just how much potential he has. But victory will surely be beyond him.
Prediction: Carreno Busta in 2
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