Beijing QF previews and predictions: Ferrer vs. Zverev, Murray vs. Edmund

Alexander Zverev vs. (5) David Ferrer

Ferrer and Zverev will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers when they clash in the quarterfinals of the China Open on Friday. Their only previous meeting came two years ago on the clay courts of Hamburg, where Ferrer cruised 6-0, 6-1. Fast forward more than two years and Zverev is obviously a much different player at this point. The 19-year-old German is up to No. 24 in the world thanks to a 40-21 record for the 2016 campaign. He recently captured his first career ATP title on the indoor hard courts of St. Petersburg, when he recovered from a 3-0 third-set deficit to upset U.S. Open champion Stan Wawrinka 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 in the final.

Zverev has advanced this week with wins over Dominic Thiem and Jack Sock, while Ferrer punched his ticket to the last eight by rolling over Pablo Cuevas and Fabio Fognini in straight sets. But the 34-year-old Spaniard is just 32-18 for the season, struggling down at No. 13 in the world and 23rd in the race to London. He has won three matches at a single tournament just twice in 2016, and he may not accomplish the feat this week with a confident Zverev on the other side of the net.

Pick: Zverev in 2

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(1) Andy Murray vs. (Q) Kyle Edmund

It will be a battle between Great Britain Davis Cup teammates when Murray and Edmund square off for the second time in their careers on Friday. Their only previous encounter came earlier this season on the grass courts of Queen’s Club, where Murray got the job done 6-4, 3-6, 6-1. The second-ranked Scot went on to win Queen’s Club, Wimbledon, and the Rio Olympics during what became a 23-match winning streak and a stretch in which he went 33-1 in 34 matches. But Murray is now looking to bounce back from a U.S. Open quarterfinal setback against Kei Nishikori and a five-set loss to Juan Martin Del Potro in the Davis Cup semifinals against Argentina (Murray beat Guido Pella on Sunday but the Brits fell 3-2).

Edmund’s career is starting to take off, with a career-high ranking of No. 54 in the world that could be as high as 48th even if he loses to his countryman on Friday. The 21-year-old has earned 17 of his 19 career ATP-level match victories this season, three of which came at the U.S. Open before he fell in the fourth round to Novak Djokovic. Edmund, who had to qualify just to get into the main draw, is through to the last eight in Beijing thanks to defeats of Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and Roberto Bautista Agut. Murray, though, may have heated up again with easy wins over Andreas Seppi (6-2, 7-5) and Andrey Kuznetsov (6-2, 6-1) and he should take care of Edmund without too much trouble.

Pick: Murray in 2

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