Atlanta QF previews and predictions: Tiafoe vs. Nakashima, Paul vs. Ivashka

Brandon Nakashima will get another shot at Frances Tiafoe when they battle for a semifinal spot in Atlanta on Friday. Tommy Paul, yet another American quarterfinalist, is going up against unseeded Ilya Ivashka.

(8) Brandon Nakashima vs. (4) Frances Tiafoe

Tiafoe and Nakashima will be going head-to-head for the fifth time in their careers when they clash in the Atlanta Open quarterfinals on Friday. All four of their previous encounters have gone Tiafoe’s way, but three them have been final-set thrillers. The two Americans faced each other at back-to-back Masters 1000s in Indian Wells and Miami this spring, with the latter seeing Tiafoe survive 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4.

With both players coming off fourth-round performances at Wimbledon, this should be another good one. However, Nakashima has been even better than Tiafoe of late and the 20-year-old has to be confident during this time of the season after reaching back-to-back finals last summer in Los Cabos and Atlanta. Tiafoe’s victory over Taro Daniel on Wednesday was just his second lifetime in the Atlanta main draw in six trips to this tournament. Nakashima has maintained his stellar form with defeats of Jordan Thompson and John Millman, so don’t be surprised if he keeps it rolling into the semifinals.

Pick: Nakashima in 3

Ilya Ivashka vs. (5) Tommy Paul

Ivashka was banned from Wimbledon since he is a Belarusian, so he is well-rested and clearly eager to make up for some lost time on tour. The world No. 53 actually played all three weeks of the grass-court swing prior to Wimbledon and advanced at least one round in all three events–including a quarterfinal effort in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Ivashka now finds himself in the Atlanta quarters following three-set victories over Quentin Halys and lucky loser Steve Johnson.

Up next for the 28-year-old on Friday is a first-ever meeting with Paul, who is in outstanding form. At 36th in the world, Paul has designs of U.S. Open seeding–something he would have already clinched had points been awarded for his fourth-round run at the All-England Club. An Atlanta quarterfinal will welp, and he achieved it by routing both Jack Sock and Soonwoo Kwon in straight sets. Paul has won 25 matches this season and has now picked up multiple victories at four consecutive tournaments. The No. 5 seed is right at home on American hard courts and he should not have too much trouble staying hot even against a formidable opponent.

Pick: Paul in 2