With the final eight in ATP Gstaad set, all eyes are firmly on Casper Ruud to continue his great 2022 and defend the title he won last year. Although Dominic Thiem, still on his way back from injury, might well have something to say about that.
ATP Gstaad Quarterfinal Predictions
Nicolas Jarry vs Albert Ramos
Head-to-head: Jarry 2-0
A matchup between two players who’s best results have come on the clay by quite a distance. It’s been a hard time for the Chilean the last few years, but the 26-year-old has found some form these past few months dropping down to the ATP Challenger Tour and making a handful of semifinals and better. Although he’s made the quarters here though, the level of jump between his two previous opponents and Ramos is huge. Ramos whilst 34 years old is still truly well and alive and kicking on the dirt, as evident with the Cordoba title earlier this year. It’s hard to see Jarry winning this one here but he does have the game to potentially worry the Spaniard but in the end Ramos should have too much game and consistency to lose this one.
Prediction: Ramos in 3
Dominic Thiem vs Juan Pablo Varillas
Head-to-head: 0-0
After an incredible 11 losses in a row, Dominic Thiem has finally found some form and is showing signs of the player he was years ago before many different injury troubles. Last week was impressive beating top 20 player Roberto Bautista-Agut and he’s backed his Bastad quarterfinal run up with at least another one here. With no disrespect to Varillas either, it’s the type of match Thiem would want at this stage of an event. The Peruvian has no weapons which is good as it will allow the Austrian to dictate play and also continue getting used to playing longer rallies to get his fitness back to where it used to be.
Prediction: Thiem in 2
Matteo Berrettini vs Pedro Martinez
Head-to-head: 0-0
There’s no doubt Matteo Berrettini was robbed of another big run at Wimbledon after contracting COVID just before his first round match. Given his great form just before The Championships winning both Stuttgart and Queens, it’s great to see that even despite moving onto the clay he’s playing just as well as evident in routing former Top 10 player Richard Gasquet aside in the last round. Whilst the backhand is still a weakness for the Italian the serve and forehand more than make up for it, even on this, the surface where his backhand is more easily exposed. Martinez is one of those solid claycourters but with no weapons to hurt Berrettini it’s hard to see the Spaniard grinding and getting enough balls back into play to pose any sort of threat here.
Prediction: Berrettini in 2
Casper Ruud vs Jaume Munar
Head-to-head: Ruud 1-0
The last time these two played was four years ago with Ruud prevailing in a final set in Bastad. Since then, Munar’s career has more or less stagnated as a solid player hovering between the 50 and 100 mark while the Norwegian finds himself in the Top 5 after a great last few months. Ruud may not be spectacular on clay but nine out of ten times, he’ll beat players outside the Top 10 as he should. This won’t be any different. Ruud is simply far superior in every way and matches like this are what he’s built his career off thus far given his horrendous record against Top 10 players too.
Prediction: Ruud in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
