The ATP Winston-Salem Open is the final lead-up event to the 2024 US Open. Because of this, many top players are already on the Flushing Meadows grounds preparing for the season’s final slam. This leaves an opening for some lower-ranked players to make a weekend run in Winston-Salem. All eight quarterfinalists are ranked outside the top 50, but that does not mean we are not in for an entertaining slate of matches. But who will advance to the semis?
ATP Winston-Salem Quarterfinal Predictions
David Goffin vs Rinky Hijikata
Head-to-Head: first meeting
33-year-old David Goffin continues to grind it out on tour and has looked very good this summer. The former World No. 7 is 15-5 in all competitions since mid-June, including three top 85 wins this week. No. 16 seed Rinky Hijikata bounced back from a set down to beat Borna Coric in the Round of 16. The Aussie lacks consistency but has the groundstrokes to be a threat on this surface. However, I expect that lack of consistency will cost him against the veteran.
Prediction: Goffin in 3
Lorenzo Sonego vs Pavel Kotov
Head-to-Head: Sonego 0-2 Kotov
No. 10 seed Lorenzo Sonego is the highest-ranked player remaining in the draw. Is the 29-year-old on track for his fourth career title? Not if Pavel Kotov has anything to say about it. The 25-year-old Russian has beaten Sonego in straight sets twice in the past ten months. Kotov has been the better player this year, especially on hard courts. I like him advancing to the semis at ATP Winston-Salem (and beyond).
Prediction: Kotov in 3
Pablo Carreno Busta vs Learner Tien
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Former World No. 10 Pablo Carreno Busta fell outside the top 1000 earlier this year after missing nearly all of 2023. He has been working his way back on tour this summer and has finally found his stride. The 33-year-old Spaniard is 5-1 in his last six matches and has always been a strong hard-court player. He gets a tricky quarterfinal matchup against 18-year-old American phenom Learner Tien. Tien has won 34 of his last 36 matches at all levels. He will be tough, but the young American does not have enough firepower to take down Carreno Busta.
Prediction: Carreno Busta in 2
Alex Michelsen vs Christopher Eubanks
Head-to-Head: Michelsen 0-1 Eubanks
Alex Michelsen turns 20 this weekend. Can he ring in his birthday with a maiden ATP title? First, he’ll have to get past countryman Christopher Eubanks. At this time last year, Eubanks was ranked No. 30 in the world. He came to ATP Winston-Salem as World No. 120 with just an 11-21 record this season. He has picked up three solid wins this week, but Michelsen is the better and more in-form player. He is 10-4 over the last five weeks.
Prediction: Michelsen in 2
Main Photo Credit: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun/USA TODAY NETWORK
