After a stunning battle between Stan Wawrinka and Daniil Medvedev, the ATP Metz 250 is down to its final eight players competing for the title. As always, we here at LWOT will preview and predict every match. Who do you think will go to the semifinals?
ATP Metz Quarterfinals
Lorenzo Sonego vs Sebastian Korda
Head-to-head: Sonego 2-1 Korda
Sonego is in his first ATP quarterfinal since Stuttgart, struggling in both the post-Wimbledon clay stretch as well as the US hard courts. The Italian has had some indoor success in the past, beating Novak Djokovic to reach the final of Vienna two years ago. That was the same autumn Seb Korda had his breakout, winning the Eckental challenger after reaching the second week of the French Open. The young American has not had the results many expected him to have after the breakthrough, still looking for his second semifinal of the season. In their runs so far, Korda did not drop sets against Hugo Gaston and Lorenzo Musetti with Sonego managing the same against Aslan Karatsev and Gilles Simon. The two faced off three times last season, Korda winning in his title run in Parma while Sonego won in Montpellier and San Diego. It’s a close call but I will lean towards the Italian here.
Prediction: Sonego in 3
Hubert Hurkacz vs Arthur Rinderknech
Head-to-head: Hurkacz 1-0 Rinderknech
While Hurkacz has mostly struggled at slams this season, the Pole has still had some great moments in 2022, winning Halle, reaching the final of Montreal, and the semifinals of Miami. Hurkacz opened with a solid win over Dominic Thiem after receiving a bye in that first round. After a strong start to the season with an Adelaide final and Doha semifinal, Rinderknech has struggled to make impact on the main tour. This is the Frenchman’s first ATP quarterfinal since February though he has won the Poznan Challenger and made the final of the Vancouver challenger. Hurkacz should be a strong favorite here, especially since he beat Rinderknech in straight sets in Miami earlier this season.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 2
Alexander Bublik vs Holger Rune
Head-to-head: first meeting
Indoor hard and grass courts are where Bublik thrives the most, the Kazakh hoping to finish the season strong. Bublik won his first ATP title in Montpellier earlier this year, beating Alexander Zverev, but has struggled a lot more in this run. Both Evan Furness and Emil Ruusuvuori took sets off the seventh seed. After a 73-win season last year, Rune’s progress became more steady in 2022. The 19-year-old is up to No. 31 and won his first career title in Munich. Rune got a bye to start with and won by retirement a set and a break up against Benjamin Bonzi. This is a tough one to call but after Bublik struggled against weaker opposition, Rune’s stronger defense should get him through here and punish the Kazakh’s errors.
Prediction: Rune in 3
Stan Wawrinka vs Mikael Ymer
Head-to-head: first meeting
After playing qualifying at an ATP tournament for the first time since 2005, Wawrinka is playing his best tennis of the season. The 37-year-old took out Laslo Djere in straight sets and came back from a set down against Zsombor Piros to qualify before beating Joao Sousa, setting up a second-round clash with World No. 4 Daniil Medvedev. Wawrinka summoned his best performance since 2020 and with the crowd behind him, pulled off the upset 6-3 in the third. Ymer had a more lowkey path to this match-up, taking out Adrian Mannarino and Gregoire Barrere in straight sets. It is tough to know what to expect from Wawrinka after completing such a feat but Ymer should provide the veteran with a lot of rhythm. Wawrinka should win this one.
Prediction: Wawrinka in 2
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