An exciting first half of the week in Estoril has brought us exciting sights such as a resurgence from Dominic Thiem and Ben Shelton’s red clay debut, and there is a lot more coming with this final eight field. As always, we here at LWOT will preview and predict every match. Who do you think will make the semifinals?
ATP Estoril Quarterfinal Predictions
Marco Cecchinato vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Head-to-head: first meeting
After struggling through the first three months of the season, including a drop to the Challenger level where he took losses to Riccardo Bonadio and Vit Kopriva, Cecchinato is finally playing some good tennis this week. The Italian took out Diego Schwartzman before coming back from a set down against his countryman Fabio Fognini. Davdovich Fokina’s level looked a step above anything Schwartzman or Fognini have shown this year though. The Spaniard saved a set point in the second set to stave off the challenge from Luca Van Assche. Cecchinato won’t be an easy out but I expect Davdovich Fokina to deliver here.
Prediction: Davidovich Fokina in 3
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Miomir Kecmanovic vs Bernabe Zapata Miralles
Head-to-head: first meeting
It’s been an up-and-down year for Kecmanovic, failing to win a match in Melbourne, reaching the final of Delray Beach, and then struggling since. The 23-year-old has looked good in Estoril this week, beating Luca Nardi in straight sets before allowing Jurij Rodionov just one game. Zapata Miralles will be a tougher challenge though. The Spaniard is showing that he definitely has staying power on the main tour, reaching back-to-back semifinals in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. Zapata Miralles failed to win a set in the Sunshine Swing, retiring from his Miami first-round with a knee injury. There seems to be no such limitation for the 26-year-old in Estoril, first routinely beating the young Portuguese qualifier Henrique Rocha before taking out second seed Hubert Hurkacz in three sets. I expect a great battle here with Zapata Miralles coming through.
Prediction: Zapata Miralles in 3
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Quentin Halys vs Dominic Thiem
Head-to-head: first meeting
After reaching the fourth round in Miami, Halys has taken the surface change in stride and has taken out Nuno Borges and Roberto Bautista Agut in straight sets. Coming into Estoril 1-9 on the season, Thiem is finally starting to get into his rhythm. The Austrian came back from a set down against his countryman Sebastian Ofner before allowing a limited Ben Shelton just four games, getting through to his first quarterfinal since Antwerp last October. Halys should be a step up for Thiem compared to his first two opponents and it will show.
Prediction: Halys in 2
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Casper Ruud vs Sebastian Baez
Head-to-head: first meeting
The match of the day between the top seed and the defending champion. Ruud has been in appalling form this season, so far failing to win back-to-back matches and sitting outside of the Top 70 in the live Race. Baez has failed to establish himself outside of clay but the 22-year-old is still a threat on the red dirt. The Argentine won his second ATP title in Cordoba two months ago, also reaching the semifinals of Santiago and the quarterfinals of Rio de Janeiro. This week, Baez has been a pretty big favorite in his wins over Radu Albot and Pedro Cachin. Ruud struggled in his Estoril opener against Joao Sousa but reached a solid level by the end of the match. I expect a victory in two tight sets for the Norwegian.
Prediction: Ruud in 2
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
