The round of 16 at a Masters 1000 event always has some good matchups. But the ATP Toronto Masters has a particularly superb fourth day of action for fans all over the world to look forward to. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are two of the players competing in the round of 16. We at LWOT have a separate article for the other matches in Toronto taking place – this includes Daniil Medvedev vs Lorenzo Musetti. Which players will progress?
ATP Toronto Day 4 Predictions
Casper Ruud vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Head-to-head: Ruud 1-1 Davidovich Fokina
I would love to know what Davidovich Fokina has been working on since his last tournament in Hamburg. Matches against JJ Wolf and Alexander Zverev on a hard court are tough propositions on paper. Yet the Spaniard has incredibly only dropped five games in the four sets he has played. Extraordinary for a man who overall has been having a mixed season. Ruud got a good win himself in straight sets against the very talented Jiri Lehecka. These two have not met since Davidovich Fokina beat the Norwegian in a five-set thriller at the 2021 French Open. Ruud is a much better player now, but I am backing the Spaniard to continue his run. His first two performances were just that impressive, and his style can disrupt the three-time Grand Slam finalist. Also, Ruud has been inconsistent this season.
Prediction: Davidovich Fokina in 3
Gael Monfils vs Aleksandar Vukic
Head-to-head: First meeting
It seems unfathomable that Gael Monfils has talked about possible retirement in the past when watching his straight-sets win against Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Frenchman was superb from start to finish, and reminded the tennis world of just how talented he is. Vukic will have to contend with a man playing his best tennis for a long time. The good news for the Australian is that he is in some of the best form of his life. He reached the final in Atlanta a couple of weeks ago, and held his nerve excellently to beat Sebastian Korda in a final set tiebreak to reach this stage at the ATP Toronto Masters. The biggest factor is how well Vukic serves as Monfils will likely have the advantage from the back of the court. It is a very tough one to call, but the former Grand Slam semifinalist gets a very slight edge.
Prediction: Monfils in 3
Jannik Sinner vs Andy Murray
Head-to-head: Sinner 1-1 Murray
Sinner proved he is the best Italian player in the world right now in his straight-sets win against countryman Matteo Berrettini. The younger Italian played a very smart match. He is known primarily for his hard-hitting from the baseline, but picked the right moments to throw in extra topspin or a slice to disrupt Berrettini’s rhythm. Murray had a much tougher battle against the impressive Max Purcell. The three-time Grand Slam champion played well as he has done recently, and needed to to beat the Australian.
Unfortunately for the Briton, I struggle to see him overcoming Sinner. He did beat him once, but that was over two years ago, Sinner is a different player now. Murray did nearly beat Tsitsipas and Taylor Fritz recently, but the hitting Sinner is capable of on a hard court is a different proposition. He would have needed the movement he had in his prime to keep up with the upcoming intensity.
Prediction: Sinner in 2
Carlos Alcaraz vs Hubert Hurkacz
Head-to-head: Alcaraz 1-0 Hurkacz
Alcaraz is obviously the favourite against anyone in the draw, but Hurkacz is a match all players must dread. It was seen at Wimbledon how the Pole for long spells took the racquet out of the hand of the greatest returner of all time Novak Djokovic with his devastating serve. And he would have won had he taken set points in the first two sets. The Wimbledon champion is of course one of the best returners in the world in his own right, and dealt adequately with the big serve of Ben Shelton in his last match. But Hurkacz has been the best server on the tour this season. It is difficult not to back the #1 player in the world, and he has shown he can handle huge serving. But Hurkacz is a player capable of causing upsets with his playing style. This might be close, but Alcaraz to reach the quarterfinals of the ATP Toronto Masters.
Prediction: Alcaraz in 3
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea – USA TODAY Sports
