Four second-round matches at the ATP Mallorca Open will determine the second batch of quarterfinalists. Former Wimbledon semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov is among those primed to secure his spot in the last eight. Who will progress?
ATP Mallorca Day 4 Predictions
Adam Walton vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Head-to-head: first meeting
Walton won the all-Australian first-round clash against Nick Kyrgios in straight sets. This is just his second main draw win on grass. His first was also at ATP Mallorca a couple of years ago. Kyrgios’ fitness struggles shouldn’t take away from what was a very good performance by his younger compatriot. That said, I think Davidovich Fokina is due for a deep run at his home tournament. He’s also found the right balance of aggression and discipline on this surface. And should the Spaniard bring the same intensity he showed at Queen’s (quarterfinalist) this past week, this match will be on his racket.
Prediction: Davidovich Fokina in 2
Ignacio Buse vs Vit Kopriva
Head-to-head: Kopriva 2-1 Buse
Buse and Kopriva have faced off three times, and all three meetings came on clay. Both players are far more comfortable on the dirt, where they can prolong rallies. But Buse announced himself on grass in a big way by knocking out former Top 10 player Stefanos Tsitsipas. Korpiva is the seasoned competitor in this matchup, but Buse continues to have an outstanding season at the Tour level. He’s bagged an ATP 500 title and is on the brink of breaking into the Top 30. And most importantly, his game is not as surface-dependent as many think.
Prediction: Buse in 2
Ethan Quinn vs Murphy Cassone
Head-to-head: first meeting
Murphy Cassone has little experience on the ATP Tour. His only appearance before this was in the first round of the Citi Open last summer, and he lost in three sets to Reilly Opelka. And he’s secured a main draw spot at ATP Mallorca as a lucky loser. Ethan Quinn had a poor finish to the clay swing. He lost four matches in a row. The change of surface has certainly brought instant results. He beat Karen Khachanov in Halle and took a set from Ben Shelton. That is the clearest indication that his level is very high right now.
Prediction: Quinn in 2
Grigor Dimitrov vs Abedallah Shelbayh
Head-to-head: first meeting
Shelbayh snapped a three-year wait for a Tour-level victory with a straight-sets win over the mercurial Corentin Moutet. And having trained for years at the Rafa Nadal Academy, the Jordanian is no stranger to ATP Mallorca. But this will be a proper assignment for the 22-year-old’s grass-court ambitions. Grigor Dimitrov joined an exclusive class by recording his 50th tour-level win on grass. Shelbayh plays aggressively from the baseline, but that approach is unlikely to pay off against a skilled grass-court specialist like Dimitrov. The Bulgarian’s serve was untouchable in that opening round, and his offensive qualities should gradually take over in this match.
Prediction: Dimitrov in 2
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke – Imagn Images
