The final eight at the ATP 250 in Doha features all top four seeds taking on unseeded opponents, led by Andrey Rublev. Will we have a semi-final lineup with the best four players in the event?
ATP Doha Quarterfinal Predictions
Ugo Humbert vs Gael Monfils
Head-to-head: Humbert 2-0
It’s been a bit of a resurgence from former top 10 player Gael Monfils in the last two weeks. From beating Denis Shapovalov in Rotterdam and then pushing eventual champion Jannik Sinner the hardest last week, he’s backed it up with two good wins against Zhang and Van De Zandschulp. Now he comes up against fellow Frenchman Humbert who won the Marseille title just two weeks ago. On a faster indoor court like the one Humbert won on, he would be favourite to win this with the way he’s serving and hitting his forehand but on a court that plays the way Doha is playing, expect Monfils to grind out some longer rallies and push Humbert a fair bit.
Prediction: Humbert in 3
Alexei Popyrin vs Alexander Bublik
Head-to-head: Popyrin 1-0
Three years ago the Australian beat the Kazakh in the Singapore final to win his maiden title despite being against the odds of doing so. Since then there’s no doubt both players are far better and what’s the most interesting part is, they play for the most part a very similar game. Relying heavily on their big serves backed up with powerful groundstrokes, it’s going to come down to who can produce their best tennis when it really matters. Coming off the Montpellier title a few weeks ago, you would think it would be Bublik and when playing well, he’s the better of the two men without a doubt.
Prediction: Bublik in 2
Emil Ruusuvuori vs Karen Khachanov
Head-to-head: Khachanov 2-1
Ruusuvuori is no doubt becoming one of the more interesting players on tour. Despite possessing no killer weapon, he’s made a career of beating players he should beat more often than not with the odd big win just being solid and nothing more. With his Russian opponent on the other hand, you really don’t know what you’re going to get and that’s really been the story the last few years, sometimes you get a world beater but more often you get someone who’s not living up to his potential. Despite the Finn winning their last match at the very start of this year, expect Khachanov to avenge the loss and outhit the 24 year old en route to making the semi-finals.
Prediction: Khachanov in 3
Andrey Rublev vs Jakub Mensik
Head-to-head: First Meeting
What’s the reward for beating former World #1 Andy Murray in the longest match ever in Doha? A meeting with World #5 and top seed Andrey Rublev. Mensik has shown us all already he’s the real deal, from beating Shapovalov in straights at the Australian Open and barely losing to Humbert Hurkacz in the next round to his heroics against Andy Murray here, the teenager is only going from strength to strength. Unfortunately, when you take into account the three and a half hours against Murray and the Russian plays well here, evident by being a former champion and finalist here, it’s hard to see much hope for him. Rublev will dominate the Czech off the ground and unless the youngster is able to have a field day serving, it’s hard to see this one being overly close.
Prediction: Rublev in 2
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
