The top two seeds remain in the ATP 250 event in Seoul as we’ve reached the quarterfinals of the 2022 Korea Open. Both Casper Ruud and Cameron Norrie might have their hands full on Friday though. Can Yoshihito Nishioka or Jenson Brooksby produce an upset? Who do you think takes the other two last eight matches?
ATP Seoul Quarterfinal Predictions
Mackenzie McDonald vs Aleksandar Kovacevic
Head-to-head: First meeting
It’s been a fantastic main tour debut for Aleksandar Kovacevic, who’s defeated Miomir Kecmanovic and Chun-Hsin Tseng to reach the quarterfinals. The 24-year-old has some great upside when he’s on, but generally struggles for consistency, both in his rally play and in terms of his results. He’s definitely got the game to keep going and beat Mackenzie McDonald, but repeating an emotional high like that often doesn’t come easy. Kovacevic has been looking so composed this week though and if he maintains that focus, he doesn’t have to stop just yet.
Prediction: Kovacevic in 3
Radu Albot vs Denis Shapovalov
Head-to-head: Albot 1-0
Radu Albot is currently on a seven-match win streak, including a Challenger title in Istanbul a couple of weeks back. The Moldovan is far from his peak, but he’s still a superb competitor and someone who will test whether Denis Shapovalov can be patient in the rallies and find precise shot selection. The youngster had some awful results in the summer, but he recently picked himself up with two wins each at Cincinnati and at the US Open. This will be a nice test to see if he’s truly improved by now.
Prediction: Shapovalov in 2
Cameron Norrie vs Jenson Brooksby
Head-to-head: Norrie 1-0
Cameron Norrie and Jenson Brooksby played in Indian Wells this year, but it was tougher than the scoreline suggested. This is a matchup that will produce an incredible number of long rallies and in the Californian desert, the Brit simply outlasted his opponent with relative ease. The conditions here should help Brooksby keep it closer and Norrie’s forehand might struggle a bit having to inject pace. The 27-year-old should get more free points though and will probably claim the win in another “survival of the fittest” type of contest.
Prediction: Norrie in 3
Casper Ruud vs Yoshihito Nishioka
Head-to-head: Ruud 1-0
Casper Ruud dropped a set to Nicolas Jarry, but steadied the course and took the third set against the big-serving Chilean. This will be a completely different matchup, but potentially just as troubling. Ruud easily defeated Yoshihito Nishioka on clay in Madrid last year, but the Japanese is a very tricky player to face on hard courts with the unpleasant lefty spins and flat backhand. The World No. 2 should still have enough leftover confidence from the US Open to take the win, but it doesn’t have to be straightforward at all.
Prediction: Ruud in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
