The ATP Halle quarterfinal matches are set. Plenty of big names remain including top seed Daniil Medvedev and his countryman Andrey Rublev. Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev both are looking to make runs at the title as well. Tallon Griekspoor has not yet lost a match on a grass court this year and seems to be a dangerous player in his current form, while Nicolas Jarry is hoping to continue to build on his massive first round upset over Stefanos Tsitsipas. With a short grass season, making a statement in Halle will prove significant coming into Wimbledon, so each of these players are hoping to get to the semis and continue to fight for the title.
ATP Halle Quarterfinal Predictions
Jannik Sinner vs Alexander Bublik
Head-to-head: 3-0 Sinner
Sinner and Bublik are playing for the second time in as many weeks after Sinner cruised to a 6-4 6-2 victory last week on grass. The Italian has played well against Bublik in the past, winning the last six sets they have played against each other. Sinner is an excellent grass court player who was a set away from the Wimbledon semifinal last year. Bublik’s power is a good fit for grass court but he has not been his best so far this season. His unorthodox game can throw off a lot of players, but Sinner matches up well because he plays solid tennis and has a good mental game that will not be thrown off by Bublik. Sinner will win in straights once again.
Prediction: Sinner in 2
Alexander Zverev vs Nicolas Jarry
Head-to-head: 2-2
While Zverev and Jarry are familiar with each other having faced off four times previously, all of those were on clay so playing on grass will be a new challenge. Both players have gotten to this point but relying on big serves and strong forehands. Each player is playing their first grass court event of 2023 and have won both their early matches in straight sets. Jarry scored a big win over Stefanos Tsitsipas, establishing himself as a danger in the draw though Tsitsipas’ game is not really made for grass courts. This should be a competitive match with very few breaks of serve, but experience tends to be key on a grass court, and Zverev has several more matches on the surface than Jarry so his familiarity will help him pull out the key points.
Prediction: Zverev in 3
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Andrey Rublev vs Tallon Griekspoor
Head-to-head: 1-0 Rublev
Rublev faces off against Griekspoor for the second time in 2023 after a close three set battle in Doha at the start of the season. Griekspoor has been excellent on grass, capturing his second title of 2023 in S-Hertogenbosch last week then scoring an impressive win here in the second round over Hurkacz. Rublev has not had much past success on grass courts, and has less experience after Russian players were not allowed to play Wimbledon last year. Rublev is coming off a good clay season but has not yet found his stride in his career on the grass, while Griekspoor seems like a dark horse to compete for the Halle title in current form. Griekspoor will keep winning and pull off the biggest upset of the day.
Prediction: Griekspoor in 3
Daniil Medvedev vs Roberto Bautista Agut
Head-to-head: 4-2 Bautista Agut
Bautista Agut has a great record against Medvedev despite the Russian’s recent dominance, and they split their two meetings on grass courts last year, with Medvedev beating Bautista Agut here at Halle. Bautista Agut’s defensive, grinding baseline game has proved a successful foil for Medvedev’s powerful, flat groundstrokes. While Medvedev has not had a ton of success on grass in his career, this matchup swings to his advantage with hit flat shots harder to defend and stay in long rallies for a player like Bautista Agut. Bautista Agut is 35-years-old and has shown some signs of slowing down so he will not have the energy he did in the past few years when he has regularly beaten Medvedev. Medvedev has been vulnerable on grass, but he is in better form and the matchup swings in his favor.
Prediction: Medvedev in 3
Main Photo Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports
