There is only one all-seeded matchup in the Vienna quarterfinals on Friday, and it should be a fun one between Carlos Alcaraz and Tommy Paul. Alex de Minaur and Matteo Berrettini are also aiming for a place in the last four.
(7) Tommy Paul vs. (2) Carlos Alcaraz
Alcaraz and Paul will be facing each other for the 12th time in their careers when they collide in the quarterfinals of the Erste Bank Open on Friday. The head-to-head series stands at 9-2 in favor of Alcaraz, who has prevailed twice this season at Grand Slams — 7-6(6), 6-4, 7-5 at the Australian Open and 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 at the U.S. Open. The third-ranked Spaniard has reeled off six victories in succession since Paul last defeated him at the 2023 Toronto Masters.
Alcaraz has understandably been a bit inconsistent since returning from a four-month absence, but for the most part his comeback has been encouraging. The 23-year-old reached the U.S. Open quarters, won the Tokyo title, lost in the Shanghai third round, and has advanced in Vienna with straight-set victories over Karen Khachanov and Nikoloz Basilashvili. Paul punched his ticket to the last eight by beating Andrey Rublev and Luciano Darderi in easy straight sets. The 14th-ranked American is in awesome form this week, but the competition level ratchets up dramatically on Friday and Alcaraz’s recent dominance of this matchup is likely to continue.
Pick: Alcaraz in 2
Matteo Berrettini vs. (5) Alex de Minaur
De Minaur is in the thick of the Nitto ATP Finals race, and this week could not be going much better for him. The Australian has advanced in Vienna with wins over Tomas Machac and Learner Tien, while fellow Turin contenders Flavio Cobolli, Frances Tiafoe, Rafael Jodar, and Novak Djokovic have already exited their respective events.
Up next for the world No. 10 is a seventh showdown against Berrettini, who leads the head-to-head series 3-2 on the main tour (it is 3-3 overall). They squared off in the same round of this same tournament 12 months ago in what was their most recent meeting and their first on an indoor hard court — one that De Minaur got the best of via a 6-1, 7-6(4) decision. Berrettini will get a chance for revenge after easing past Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3, 6-4 and then getting a first-set retirement from Cobolli on Thursday night. The 48th-ranked Italian is playing well enough to be competitive, but De Minaur’s defense should once again be too tough on this particular court.
Pick: De Minaur in 3
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