It’s quarterfinal day at the ATP Erste Bank Open in Vienna where the schedule is filled with four intriguing matches. Current world #4 Daniil Medvedev looks to return to the title reckoning this week and faces the highly-talented Jannik Sinner in the pick of Friday’s matches. We have predictions of all those matches covered in this article. Who do you think will reach the semifinals?
ATP Vienna Quarterfinal Predictions
Grigor Dimitrov vs Marcos Giron
Head-to-head: Dimitrov 1-1 Giron
Rublev lost his mantle as the King of the ATP 500s after another loss which will now delay his Turin qualification berth. Dimitrov saved his best tennis for his third indoor hard-court tournament to earn his second win over a top 10 player this season. The Bulgarian will seek to reach his first semifinal appearance since Monte Carlo when he plays Marcos Giron. The American world #58 authored his very own shock win over Cameron Norrie, dealing the Briton a major setback in the ATP Race. Dimitrov should fancy his chances here after his near-perfect performance against Rublev, with 20 winners coming off his wand. His game strikes a balance in both defense and attack much more fluidly and I reckon he will charge into the last four.
Prediction: Dimitrov in 2
Denis Shapovalov vs Dan Evans
Head-to-head: Evans 3-1 Shapovalov
Historically, the Vienna Open has not been a happy hunting ground for Denis Shapovalov. He made first-round exits in each of his two trips before this week. But he managed to turn his fortunes around, besting fellow left-hander Jurij Rodionov and the in-form Taylor Fritz. Shapoval will now attempt to address his poor record against Dan Evans. The British No. 2 occasionally blows hot and cold but has played consistent tennis in the second half of the campaign.
With 30 match wins under his belt this year, Evans has put together a career-best season as he inches closer to cracking the Top 20 for the first time in his career. Despite owning a 3-1 head-to-head record, Evans has eked out some tough wins against the Canadian. Matches between the pair are far from dull affairs and Friday’s encounter should follow suit. However, the man from Birmingham still holds the cards in this matchup and you would expect him to smother Shapovalov into spraying too many errors from the baseline.
Prediction: Evans in 3
Hubert Hurkacz vs Borna Coric
Head-to-head: Hurkacz 1-1 Coric
Borna Coric continues to be a pebble in Tsitsipas’ shoe as he defeated the Greek for the third time in four matches. Coric’s impressive form has taken him to his fourth quarterfinal of the year where Hubert Hurkacz awaits. The Pole maintained his hopes for Turin alive after knocking off an in-form Emil Ruusuvuori. His serving numbers are impeccable. With a lot at stake this week and in Bercy, Hurkacz will be motivated to make the last four in Vienna.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 3
Daniil Medvedev vs Jannik Sinner
Head-to-head: Medvedev 3-0 Sinner
Medvedev gatecrashed Dominic Thiem’s homecoming just when the Austrian was finding his feet at the Vienna Open. Medvedev’s pre-tournament confession that he is feeling 100% ready could spell bad news for the rest of the field. It has not been a vintage year for the Russian, but he is an intimidating presence on the court. Untimely injuries have played a key part in surrendering his status as the ATP’s No. 1.
Sinner, like Medvedev, made his comeback from injury this week. The Italian rolled his ankle horribly in Sofia and spent three weeks on the sidelines. But he hasn’t shown any ill effects as he powered into another quarterfinal in Vienna. Outside Rublev, Sinner remains the only feasible candidate that could hit through Medvedev’s brick-wall defense. But the way in which the world #4 is running his opponents rampant this week, almost to the point of exhaustion, could rob Sinner of valuable time and space in executing his shots.
Prediction: Medvedev in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
