ATP Tel Aviv has reached the quarterfinals stage, and to no one’s surprise it features the returning Novak Djokovic. Constant Lestienne continues his interesting rise, but the hometown crowd lost their last Israeli in Round 2. Can anyone seriously challenge Djokovic for the title? We make our picks below, including Marin Cilic vs Liam Broady.
ATP Tel Aviv Quarterfinals Including Novak Djokovic vs Vasek Pospisil
Arthur Rinderknech vs Roman Safiullin
Head-to-head: Safiullin 1-0
Rinderknech is the better player in this matchup, and has just been gaining his footing on the ATP tour this year, whereas Safiullin is still a step behind. The Russian has played very little over the last six weeks, while the Frenchman has put together some decent matches recently. Rinderknech has come through Diego Schwartzman this tournament, as well as Jaume Munar and Nikoloz Basilashvili not long ago, while his last two losses have been to Hubert Hurkacz and Daniil Medvedev. Safiullin won the lone H2H, but that was the first match of the year, and he was playing better back then, including a win over Stefanos Tsitsipas in February.
Prediction: Rinderknech in 3
Maxime Cressy vs Constant Lestienne
Head-to-head: first meeting
An excellent showing on the Challenger tour this summer justified Constant Lestienne in making the jump to the ATP, and it has created a confusing scenario. He is 4-1, all on hard courts, and has beaten some decent opponents, including Alejandro Tabilo, Adrian Mannarino, and Emil Ruusuvuori, the latter two here in Tel Aviv. But Lestienne is 30 years old, and it’s hard to imagine that he’s hitting his peak at this late date. A career Challenger tour and ITF player, Lestienne has nonetheless risen over 150 rankings this year, and had his best success on the Challenger tour on hard courts. Cressy is the better player overall, and came through a good opponent last round in Sebastian Korda, and he is favored here. But Lestienne could surprise, or at least give Cressy a run for his money.
Prediction: Cressy in 3
Marin Cilic vs Liam Broady
Head-to-head: Cilic 1-0
Liam Broady has lodged his second-best upset of the year, knocking off Botic van de Zandschulp last round (number one being his upset of Diego Schwartzman at Wimbledon). But he is very low-ranked, and subsists primarily on the Challenger and ITF tours. He faces a stiff test in Marin Cilic, who has played well the last few months after a lull in the middle of his resurgent season. Cilic is a hard court monster when he’s on, and he’s been on more often than not this year, getting a good warmup here with a win over Dominic Thiem after taking some time off following the US Open. The Croat should handle this cleanly, and should look to end it quickly in order to save energy for a possible run at the title.
Prediction: Cilic in 2
Novak Djokovic vs Vasek Pospisil
Head-to-head: Djokovic 5-0
Djokovic is rampaging after an absence from the tour, after dispatching Pablo Andujar unceremoniously in Round 2. Pospisil had his best win of the season, over Tallon Griekspoor in Round 1, but otherwise hasn’t beaten anyone in the top 100 all year. Those two facts are all anyone needs to know, but if you’re still in doubt, check the H2H. Most of those were in straight sets, and came against the prime version of the Canadian.
Prediction: Djokovic in 2
Main Photo:
