Day 5 at the 2022 ATP Mallorca Open will see the four singles quarterfinal matches contested on Thursday. Three of the eight seeded players are still standing at the ATP 250 grass court tournament. World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev is the defending champion, having won the inaugural edition of the ATP event last year.
ATP Mallorca Quarterfinal Predictions
Antoine Bellier vs Tallon Griekspoor
Head-to-head: First meeting
World No. 303 Antoine Bellier has made a surprise run to the quarterfinals in Mallorca, after saving two match points in his final qualifying round win over Mats Rosenkranz. The Swiss has downed Federico Delbonis and Pablo Carreno Busta without losing a set in the opening two rounds – saving all thirteen break points he faced against the latter. The 25-year-old had not played a tour level match on grass before this week.
Tallon Griekspoor has defeated Feliciano Lopez, in two tiebreak sets, and Alex Molcan, in a final set tiebreak, to advance to the last eight. The World No. 53 made the second round in both Den Bosch and Halle this season, losing to quality opponents in Felix Auger-Aliassime and Bautista Agut respectively.
Griekspoor’s greater tour experience and powerful game should see him prevail against Bellier. The 25-year-old Dutchman is more dangerous on the grass than Carreno Busta or Delbonis, though the Swiss qualifier should not be written off given his run so far.
Prediction: Griekspoor in 3
Daniel Altmaier vs Benjamin Bonzi
Head-to-head: First meeting (1-0 Bonzi including qualifying level)
Daniel Altmaier has earned his only tour level wins on grass since Antalya in 2017 this week. The World No. 64 saw off Dusan Lajovic in straight sets, before overcoming Sebastian Baez in three sets. While these were solid wins, both Lajovic and Baez are much more adept on clay.
Benjamin Bonzi has earned wins against Alejandro Tabilo, who retired while trailing by a set and 4-2, and Denis Shapovalov to reach the last eight. The World No. 56 crushed 2021 Wimbledon semifinalist Shapovalov 6-4, 6-1 in the second round, saving eight of the nine break points he faced. The Frenchman won 79% and 88% on his first serve respectively in these two matches. This backed up his quarterfinal showing in Stuttgart two weeks ago, where he was forced to give Oscar Otte a walkover.
Bonzi’s aggressive style should see him prevail against the 23-year-old German, who, while powerful, is generally more comfortable on clay. The 26-year-old won 6-4, 6-3 when the pair faced off in the semifinals of Wimbledon qualifying last year.
Prediction: Bonzi in 2
Marcos Giron vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
Head-to-head: 1-0 Tsitsipas (2-0 including qualifying level)
Marcos Giron has progressed to the quarterfinals with hard-fought three-set victories against Botic van de Zandschulp and Mackenzie McDonald. No. 2 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas saw off Ilya Ivashka in the second round in straight sets after receiving a bye. The World No. 6 has continued to find grass challenging this year, falling in the last eight in Stuttgart and the second round in Halle.
While Tsitsipas’ limitations with his backhand slice and on return are exacerbated on grass, his losses this season have come against Andy Murray and Nick Kyrgios–both elite players on the surface. The 23-year-old’s dominant serve and forehand should still see him through against many players, including Giron – who does not possess quite the same firepower.
Prediction: Tsitsipas in 2
Daniil Medvedev vs Roberto Bautista Agut
Head-to-head: 3-1 Bautista Agut
Top seed Daniil Medvedev recovered to beat Russian compatriot Aslan Karatsev 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the second round in Mallorca, after receiving a first round bye. The 26-year-old has impressed during the grass court season, finishing as runner-up in Den Bosch and Halle in the past two weeks.
No. 5 seed Robert Bautista Agut downed Taro Daniel in straight sets in the opening round, before receiving a walkover from scheduled second round opponent Nick Kyrgios. The Spaniard achieved his best Major result at Wimbledon in 2018 by reaching the last four. The 34-year-old also won a title on grass at the Rosmalen Open in 2014.
Medvedev earned his first win in four encounters with Bautista Agut in the Halle quarterfinals last week. The Spaniard’s shot tolerance and consistency can frustrate Medvedev, but the Russian’s bigger serve should give him the edge again on grass at a tournament he won convincingly last year.
Prediction: Medvedev in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
