The last eight at the ATP 500 in Barcelona has a very strange feel to it without a single Spaniard making us this far, having been so accustomed to the likes of Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer, and more recently Carlos Alcaraz contending for the title. Despite that however, last week’s Monte-Carlo winner Stefanos Tsitsipas is looking to extend his winning streak.
ATP Barcelona Quarterfinal Predictions
Tomas Martin Etcheverry vs Cameron Norrie
Head-to-head: Norrie 1-0
It’s fair to say these both of these men have played their best tennis in the past on this surface, especially Cameron Norrie coming off a Rio title last year where he managed to beat Carlos Alcaraz in the final. So far this clay court season both men have underwhelmed, there was no harm in the Argentine losing to eventual champion Stefanos Tsitsipas last week but winning just the single game was more embarrassing more than anything else.
Norrie had a very disappointing South American clay court swing winning just three matches in the two events over there before losing in the first round of Monte-Carlo just last week. The Brit also further struggled in the opening round here and got rather lucky that Harold Mayot, the world no.116 was forced to retire at one set all. Thankfully for his sake a much better performance in the third round occurred routing Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut. If both men play well, Norrie is the better player who can grind Etcheverry down more than vice versa.
Prediction: Norrie in 2
Casper Ruud vs Matteo Arnaldi
Head-to-head: Arnaldi 1-0
Truth be told, Casper Ruud didn’t deliver in last week’s Monte-Carlo final. Having come off the biggest win of his career against world no.1 Novak Djokovic in the semis, a very lackluster performance followed the day after. The 23 year old has been on the rise for a good solid year now and now finds himself in the world’s Top 40 with already three wins this week to set up this clash. Amazing, the Italian not only leads the head-to-head but their previous match was also on this surface which he won routinely. Could the same thing happen again here, it’s hard to see. Ruud has been inconsistent lately with bad performances but for the most part he’s been fairly good since returning onto the European clay. If Ruud hits his serve and especially forehand the way he mostly has the last few weeks, this rivalry should become level.
Prediction: Ruud in 2
Arthur Fils vs Dusan Lajovic
Head-to-head: 1-1
Things were looking so promising for the young Frenchman but it’s actually been a somewhat disappointing 2024 thus far, until at least the previous round where he impressively routed Alex de Minaur after the Australian did the same to Rafael Nadal. The Frenchman has a great game for the surface with his high topspin forehand capable of causing havoc on the dirt, as De Minaur found out. Now against Lajovic, it’s more or less the same, the Serbian will try and grind down the Frenchman but that also leaves the result in the hands of the 19-year-old. If the teen plays continues where he left off, he should breeze through the 33-year-old but if not and he produces a performance such as the one last week against Musetti, it’s going to be a close contest.
Prediction: Fils in 3
Facundo Diaz Acosta vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
Head-to-head: First meeting
It’s amazing what just 10 days can do. At the beginning of Monte-Carlo, Stefanos Tsitsipas was a shadow of the player he once was, evident by dropping outside the world’s top 10 with more or less no notable wins on his resumé since January last year. Fast forward to now, the Greek has found some form evident by beating the best player in the world this year Jannik Sinner in the semifinals and then Casper Ruud in the final. The serve looks great, the return, which has hampered him his whole career has held up and both his forehand and backhand have looked devastating. Barring a huge collapse in form or fatigue kicking in, the 25 year old is the heavy favourite for this title with the remaining names left, Diaz Acosta simply just doesn’t have the weapons to contend with the Greek.
Prediction: Tsitsipas in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
