Top seed Hubert Hurkacz will take on the newly resurgent Dominic Thiem on quarterfinal day in Antwerp. American Sebastian Korda will be in action against Yoshihito Nishioka on Friday as they bid for the semis.
(1) Hubert Hurkacz vs. (PR) Dominic Thiem
Hubert Hurkacz has compiled a handful of decent if underwhelming results since his second-round ouster at the U.S. Open. He made the semifinals in Metz a few weeks ago and the quarters in Astana. Hurkacz is looking for his second title in the season in Antwerp. He just slipped past Jack Draper in the second round to earn his spot in the quarters opposite familiar foe Dominic Thiem.
Thiem has been trying for most of the season to find a bit of the same form that saw him to the title of the U.S. Open in 2020. Only now at the tail end of the season has he put up solid results. He is still languishing at No. 132 in the world due to wrist surgery in the summer of 2021 and a slow attempt to work his way back to full fitness. The Austrian dipped down the the Challenger circuit several times this year, but he appears to be on the road to recovery. Thiem made the semis in Gijon last week and he is at least a quarterfinalist in Antwerp.
Hurkacz matches up well with Thiem. They have played three other times and Hurkacz has won all three encounters. One of them came just a few weeks ago in Metz–an easy straight set victory for the Pole. Thiem is starting to play better, so he could make Hurkacz work hard for the win.
Cheryl pick: Hurkacz in 3
Ricky pick: Hurkacz in 3
Sebastian Korda vs. (8) Yoshihito Nishioka
Sebastian Korda produced his best result of the year last week in Gijon. The world No. 36 made the final in Gijon, where he lost in straight sets to Andrey Rublev. Korda has gained some momentum as the 2022 season winds to a close. He even managed a straight-set win over Karen Khachanov, to whom Korda lost in the 2021 Wimbledon round of 16 in a wild fifth set which featured 13 breaks of serve before Khachanov finally snagged the win.
Yoshihito Nishioka just won his second career tour title in Seoul, propelling him to a current ranking of No. 39. The Japanese left-hander defeated Canada’s Denis Shapovalov in the final. Nishioka had to work hard to earn his spot in the quarters this week. Luca Van Assche, the French qualifier, pushed him in three tight sets before he defeated Jaume Munar in the second round in straight sets.
Korda won the only other match between the two men, back on the clay courts of Parma in 2021. The American is playing a bit better than Nishioka, especially with the confidence of a straight-set win over Khachanov on Friday.
Cheryl pick: Korda in 3
Ricky pick: Korda in 2
WWW?
Thiem won and it looks like he is on his way back to top form.
This could be a game changer for slam results next year as he can beat anyone on top form. He is unlikely to be a real factor at the AO but if he carries on improving watch out for the clay season and RG.
Very good he is back! Will make a big difference…