Rain continues to play havoc with the schedule at ATP Napoli, meaning only three of the quarterfinals are set heading into Friday. Matteo Berrettini is the highest seeded player to make it through so far. However, #1 seed Pablo Carreno Busta is yet to play his third round match against Fabio Fognini. They remain the favourites to lift the title in Napoli but there are plenty left in the draw who could upset that narrative. With that in mind, let’s get stuck into our predictions for the three matches we do have ready for our ATP Napoli quarterfinal predictions.
ATP Napoli Quarterfinal Predictions
Zhizhen Zhang vs Mackenzie McDonald
Head-to-head: 1 – 0 McDonald
Mackenzie McDonald is the higher ranked player and clear favourite heading into this match. However, that doesn’t mean he will have things easy as Zhizhen Zheng is playing the best tennis of his career. The Chinese 26 year old is on the cusp of finishing a year inside the top 100 for the first time in his career. One more win here or another decent tournament of the few that are left will secure him that honour. That serves as huge motivation for Zhang to come out swinging in this one. That being said, McDonald has looked very good this week. The American just secured a top win against Roberto Bautista Agut and will be full of confidence as a result. I expect this will be close, but McDonald loooks to have to much for Zhang in this one.
Prediction: McDonald in 3
Lorenzo Musetti vs Daniel Elahi Galan
Head-to-head: First meeting
Neither of these players is particularly potent on hard courts. However, they aren’t slouches on hard courts by any means either. Daniel Elahi Galan is enjoying his best year on the ATP Tour and will finish inside the top 100 as a result. Similarly, Lorenzo Musetti spent another year establishing his position as a young star to look out for, especially on clay. Galan has the bigger serve of the two and that will be a big factor here. If Musetti can’t get involved in Galan’s service games then he will struggle to make any headway in this match. If the young Italian manages to force more extended rallies then I give him the edge here as he is better off the ground. I think it’s likely Galan serves well enough to score the upset here so I’m giving him the edge in what will be a tight affair.
Prediction: Galan in 3
Matteo Berrettini vs Taro Daniel
Head-to-head: 2- 1 Berrettini
It has taken Berrettini a little while to get back to his best after injuries derailed his 2022 campaign slightly. Losing all his Wimbledon points won’t have helped much either. However, his level now looks that of a top ten player once more and a title run here coupled with a good run at Paris could see him book at spot in the ATP finals. He won’t have it easy in this match as Taro Daniel is a tough competitor playing some very good tennis. However, Berrettini’s serve and forehand combo is one of the more lethal weapons on the ATP Tour and likely sees him over the line in his home country.
Prediction: Berrettini in 2
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