Most of the pre-tournament title favourites are still in the draw at the ATP European Open in Antwerp. 2020 runner-up Alex de Minaur, 2022 champion Felix Auger-Aliassime, and two-time semifinalist Stefanos Tsitsipas will all be in action on Friday, alongside home crowd favourite Zizou Bergs. Who do you think will make the final four?
ATP Antwerp Quarterfinal Predictions
Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Roberto Bautista Agut
Head-to-head: Auger-Aliassime 3-2 Bautista Agut
Felix Auger-Aliassime is definitely an indoor specialist at this stage and he keeps proving it. He won this event in 2022, which was part of a brilliant run of 16 wins in a row and three titles in as many weeks (Florence, Antwerp, Basel). The Canadian recently took three wins under the roof at the Davis Cup as well. It seems like indoors he’s a lot more trustworthy than in general at the moment. It will probably get him past Roberto Bautista Agut, who’s still solid at 36 years old but doesn’t really have the resilience or firepower to beat the top guys anymore.
Prediction: Auger-Aliassime in 2
Alex de Minaur vs Hugo Gaston
Head-to-head: Gaston 1-0 de Minaur
Alex de Minaur is fighting for his Turin qualification spot, but the injury from Wimbledon is still bothering him. Between that event and Antwerp he only played at the US Open, somehow making the quarterfinals but eventually breaking down physically against Jack Draper. But since then it’s been a struggle to return to the court quickly enough and after his opener against Roberto Carballes Baena, one has to wonder if de Minaur isn’t rushing things. But if he’s fully fit, or even close to it, he should take down Hugo Gaston indoors.
Prediction: de Minaur in 2
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Marcos Giron vs Zizou Bergs
Head-to-head: first meeting
Zizou Bergs got a dream draw to the quarterfinals in Antwerp, having to beat two opponents who are simply uncomfortable indoors (Facundo Diaz Acosta in his first professional match in these conditions and another clay-court specialist in Sebastian Baez). Now is where it gets more tricky for the Belgian. But he’s been waiting for a spot like this and has a higher ceiling than Marcos Giron. Game-wise he’s ready for his first big ATP Tour run, let’s see if everything is okay in the mental department as well.
Prediction: Bergs in 3
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Jiri Lehecka
Head-to-head: Tsitsipas 2-1
Stefanos Tsitsipas has had a thoroughly mediocre campaign on hard courts this year and had to save three break points at 5-all in the decider to beat Thiago Seyboth Wild in the opening round. Jiri Lehecka has already beaten him this year with a sensational performance in Indian Wells. Things have gone a bit sideways for the Czech since with the injury in Madrid, but he’s back in solid shape now. This seems very tight, Lehecka is more erratic but has all the tools to pressure the Tsitsipas backhand on a court like this.
Prediction: Lehecka in 3
Main photo credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
