It’s a high-profile quarterfinal line-up at the 2024 ATP Dubai Tennis Championships. The top three seeds have all found their way through to this stage of the event alongside more than one player who has already picked up an ATP Tour title this season, with the stage set for an entertaining day of tennis. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate. But who will reach the last four?
ATP Dubai Quarterfinal Predictions
Alexander Bublik vs Jiri Lehecka
Head-to-head: first meeting
Alexander Bublik the grinder has been quite a sight this year, highlighted by coming back from a set down in all his matches on the way to the Montpellier title. It’s a completely different mindset from the Kazakh and he’s often willing to dig deep off the ground now. He might need another determined effort to defeat Jiri Lehecka though as the Czech was finding some of his best ball-striking in the win over Karen Khachanov. He enjoys these quick courts too.
Prediction: Lehecka in 3
Sebastian Korda vs Andrey Rublev
Head-to-head: Rublev 3-0 Kordda
Sebastian Korda has only dropped three games in his first two matches this week, but the quality of opposition is night and day in the last eight. Andrey Rublev had to come up with the goods against the big serves of Zhang Zhizhen and Arthur Cazaux, also firing on all cylinders so far. He’s yet to drop a set against Korda in three matches and even if the American has plenty of untapped potential, the high-percentage offense of Rublev makes him such a tough player to upset.
Prediction: Rublev in 2
Hubert Hurkacz vs Ugo Humbert
Head-to-head: Hurkacz 3-1 Humbert
That insane streak of nine tie-breaks played in a row has finally come to an end for Hubert Hurkacz, who defeated Christopher O’Connell 7-6 6-4 and secured his second break across the past 61 games on return. Now he gets to play Ugo Humbert, who recently took him down on the slower indoor courts of Marseille. The Pole still leads the head-to-head though and was scrambling around the court so well when they played at the Australian Open just a bit over a month ago. Yet another serve-oriented contest incoming.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 3
Daniil Medvedev vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Head-to-head: Medvedev 3-0
Daniil Medvedev hasn’t been impervious so far in his first tournament since the Australian Open. Alexander Shevchenko served for the set against him and Lorenzo Sonego actually managed to snatch the opener before the world #4 fought his way back into the match. He was also playing with some tape on his shoulder and let’s see how that situation progresses. But for now, the defending champion is still the favorite over the erratic Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who often doesn’t maximize his skillset.
Prediction: Medvedev in 3
Main photo credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
