Seven of the eight Barcelona quarterfinalists are seeded players, making for a blockbuster schedule of action on Friday. Andrey Rublev is going up against fellow rising star Jannik Sinner, while Diego Schwartzman faces Pablo Carreno Busta.
(11) Jannik Sinner vs. (3) Andrey Rublev
Something is up with Rublev this week. Mentally he has been a foul mood, and his level has predictably suffered as a result. The seventh-ranked Russian managed to get past Federico Gaio 6-4, 6-3 before outlasting Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-4, but neither performance was impressive. Perhaps it’s understandable. Rublev has been playing tons of tennis, as win after win week in and week out means little time off. He is coming off a solid but frustrating runner-up result last week in Monte-Carlo and just hasn’t been able to get back in gear at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell.
Things will have to improve in a hurry if Rublev wants to be around for the weekend, because the competition level ratchets up dramatically in the form of Sinner on Friday afternoon. The 19-year-old Italian is also one of the hottest players on tour, with one title this season, a run to the Miami final, and two other quarterfinal appearances. So far this week Sinner has erased Egor Gerasimov and Roberto Bautista Agut in straight sets. Rublev should wake up with such a marquee matchup in front of him, but Sinner is undoubtedly the better player in Barcelona.
Pick: Sinner in 3
(4) Diego Schwartzman vs. (6) Pablo Carreno Busta
Schwartzman and Carreno Busta will surprisingly be going head-to-head for the first time in four years when the finally meet again on Friday. They have not faced each other since 2017, when Carreno Busta cruised 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open and Schwartzman prevailed 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 on the indoor hard courts of Vienna.
It has to be said that Schwartzman is lucky just to be in the quarterfinals. Frances Tiafoe served for a straight-set win against him on Wednesday, but the ninth-ranked Argentine battle back to score a 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory. Schwartzman followed that up with a 6-4, 6-2 defeat of Corentin Moutet. A tougher test awaits with Carreno Busta on the other side of the net. The 13th-ranked Spaniard is 12-4 this year with recent title on the red clay of Marbella and routine wins in Barcelona at the expense of Jordan Thompson and Bernabe Zapata Miralles. Carreno Busta is simply in superior form at the moment, both on clay and overall.
Pick: Carreno Busta in 3
WWW?
Sinner in 3
PCB IN 3
Sinner is probably just as strong from the back and has a few more options.
Schwartzman seems to be improving but doubt he’s back to his best, which he would need to be to win this.
Plus Rublev is probably feeling like he’s running out of options after his MC final loss.
Sinner has beaten Tsitsopas on clay and will like his chances. Sinner got exposure to Djokovic and wouldve gone to another level. There’s not as much upside for Rublev.
Sinner winning is not a surprise. He has a lot of top 10 wins. Beaten Zverev, Tsitsi and Rublev.
No one is going to want to play him at RG.
I must say that I would be pretty pleased to see him beat Tsitsi again assuming they meet.
I feel Tsitsi is becoming overly conceited again.
The Tsitsi Bird is a peacock, for sure. He has flair and an attractive all-around game.
Have been searching for peacock emojis!
It’s true he is one. I don’t dislike him but I wouldn’t mind seeing his feathers ruffled a bit.
🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦
I found these while looking for peacock emojis.
They are so nice I thought I would post them…
🦚 This is the emoji for Peacock on my new HP laptop. I am struggling with the laptop but making headway. Got the frog Gravatar off. But can’t upload the picture I want, which is of Tsitsi Bird 🦚in all his glory.
Feeling I must embrace him in all his cockiness. He will be around winning a long time. Might as well get used to it is my motto.
Those Birdies are too cute! Cardinals maybe. I need my glasses on and a magnifying glass to see them properly.
Ah that’s better!😁 A peacock emoji is a splendid sight!
Thinking Sinner may beat the peacock actually…
LOL! Well said, Amy!
I don’t dislike Tsitsi either, but he is rather full of himself. Ain’t nobody like our dear Rafa!
Hello Marilyn!
Very nice to see a new poster here..😀
And yes there’s no one like Rafa despite all the ways he drives us insane with his complexes and crises of confidence..😀
Tsitsipas is too cocky. I appreciate his talent and his game, but I do not appreciate a player with grandiosity. Zverev started to get full of himself, too.
That’s one reason that I appreciate Rafa. I love his humility. Every player has to have a certain amount of ego. You need that belief for confidence to perform well. Sometimes I think maybe Rafa has a bit too much respect for his opponents. But he is a well grounded person who has a great outlook on sport and life.
Tsitsi is nowhere near as bad as Zverev. But he is annoyingly cocky at times.
Rafa, Dom, Diego are all humble and practically devoid of personal vanity.
Talking of Dom where is he??
Domi is having a bit of struggle between injuries (toe and knee, I think, haven’t kept up that much) and a sort of hangover after finally winning a slam. Kind of questioning whether it’s worth all the dedication, thinking there’s other things in life. Maybe he’s having the sort of reaction Carlos Moya had after winning RG “I won a slam, now my tennis life is complete.”
Agree. Difficult to win GS in big 3 era. Too much tennis played from Thiem the last few years to climb the mountain. Hard to stay up there as he is figuring it out.
I’m very sad to read that. He’s one of my favourite players.
I read recently that Dom said RG is h
is top goal for this year along with beating Rafa there.
That doesn’t sound like someone lacking in motivation and self-belief. He also posted photos of being back training so presumably he is on track.
I certainly still see him as a big threat on clay.
If anyone can tell me how Rafa is playing that would be fab.
Sinner- Tstisi are 1-1 on head to head.
Tsitsi win in 2019 on clay and Sinner won last year on clay.
So Sinner definitely has a shot to win.
Thiem is injured I believe.
Rafa was just broken. Now the second set is tied. This is frustrating to watch. Rafahas a chance to break to go up two breaks, but didn’t get it done.
Now Rafa has three break points. He is playing well in this match, but Norrie really can’t hurt Rafa. Serving stats are good for first and second serves. Rsfa has also come out with some insane shots. A forehand DTL that was pure vintage Rafa.
Rafa is getting there. He needs the match play.
Thanks nny!
I agree that Rafa needs match play so the three setters he has just played are good rather than bad as he has to improve his fitness.
Rafa is not at his best. Having trouble serving out the match. He should do it now. Vamos Rafa!
Too close for comfort that 2nd set.
Elizabeth,
I agree. Rafa had too much trouble closing it out. He’s not there yet.
Second set was too close for comfort.
NNY,
Hoping to see Rafa vs PCB this morning.
Vamos Rafa! 💪🏼
amy,
Yes. The three set matches are much needed. Too much time off for Rafa.
Rafa needs confidence and that comes from playing and winning.
But also he will gain confidence if he gets fitter.
Shouldn’t really be close against Norrie!
Hoping for small but steady improvements..
Thanks for the welcome, Amy, but I’m just old Ramara. For some reason the forum has been slotting in my real name unless I remember to change it.
Nice to see you anyway Ramara!😀😀
I see the peacock has just won.
Yes, nice to see Ramara!
Tsitsi Bird strutting with his beak held high.
Rafa struggling to close out the first set. Not like him. Finally he does it!
Nny, he does struggle closing sets when going through one of his nervy phases.
At least he got it done!😀
Rafa leading 4-1 in the 2nd set.
If he can win in 2 sets, that will feel great!
Agree. Difficult to win GS in big 3 era. Too much tennis played from Thiem the last few years to climb the mountain. Hard to stay up there as he is figuring it out.
Afraid of what shape Nole might be in and losing to Aslan Karatsev. I don’t expect any sympathy here. 🤗
If there is a thread for Belgrad, I didn’t find it, sorry.
What Nole lost to Karatsev?!
I didn’t know.
And if so I am sorry Elizabeth.
Both he and Rafa are showing their age.
I don’t think Nole is very motivated now outside the slams though.
Don’t know that it means that much.
Not yet, Amy!
But Nole losing to anyone is not off the table. Karatsev is a thick muscle man from Russia.
I was teasing about the sympathy here. (see the huggy face emoji)
Rafa is on deck. Feels like PCB will lose.🤞🏼
Well if Nole can lose so can Rafa! He is not really himself atm…
Rafa won the first set. I don’t know what to say about how he did it. I am also trying to watch Barty v Svitolina.
That sounds cryptic!! Was he playing bad?
Go Barty!
hahaha, I am just confused. There is so much going on at once.
Rafa is closing in on a win in 2 sets! Rafa serving for the match coming up 😯
On the edge of my seat following Barty. She might make it but it’s still a fight with Svitolina.
Rafa wins or no, almost.
Yes, he made it!
So he gets to play the Tsitsi bird!🐦🐦🐦🐦
The peacock is the favourite on form…
Barty won! Good. I like her…
😧😩 Can’t watch Nole vs this blazing hulk!
I’ve had enough. At least Rafa and Barty won. Good luck to Halep.
Back to bed for me 👋🏼
Yes a good thing to rest!
Not looking forward to tomorrow very much…😕