Defending Atlanta champion Alex de Minaur will take on the tough French player Ugo Humbert in the Atlanta quarterfinals. Hometown favorite and Georgia Tech alum Chris Eubanks will take on Aleksandar Vukic.
(2) Alex de Minaur vs. Ugo Humbert
Alex de Minaur has made a kind of home for himself on the scorching hot courts of the Atlanta Open. The Aussie is a two-time champion and the current title holder. He will be bidding for his second title of the season. The world No. 17 snagged the crown in Acapulco over Tommy Paul, and looks ready to roll again for a shot at a title defense.
De Minaur is one of the fittest players on tour and he doesn’t just manage the extreme heat in Atlanta; he uses it to his advantage, waiting for opponents to wilt under the conditions–which they have a tendency to do. He will take on France’s Ugo Humbert on Friday.
Humbert dispatched countryman Constant Lestienne in the first round and Lloyd Harris in the second to earn his spot in the quarterfinals. He has run into de Minaur on four other occasions; Humbert won their first encounter, but De Minaur has won the last three. The courts in Atlanta actually suit Humbert’s game, but it is unlikely he will take out an in-form De Minaur.
Cheryl pick: De Minaur in 3
Ricky pick: De Minaur in 2
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(5) Chris Eubanks vs. Aleksandar Vukic
Chris Eubanks vs. Aleksandar Vukic has historically proven to be an interesting matchup. The two men have faced each other six times since 2019, although only one of those encounters came in the main draw of an ATP tournament. Each of the matches was competitive, with Vukic taking four of the six–including their last two.
Eubanks had a tricky second-round against former Atlanta finalist Brandon Nakashima, while Vukic fought through against the No. 4 seed Yoshihito Nishioka to earn his spot in the quarters.
This is a different Chris Eubanks from their previous meetings. It’s a Chris Eubanks who won the title in Mallorca and a delivered a quarterfinal showing at Wimbledon. He is also playing in front of the home crowd and the courts in Atlanta are quick and high-bouncing–perfect for his big first serve. While the matchup favors “Vuki,” Eubanks should make his way through this match.
Cheryl pick: Eubanks in 3
Ricky pick: Eubanks in 2
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