Top seed Daniil Medvedev may have a tough match on his hands when he faces Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Masters on Friday. Felix Auer-Aliassime and Borna Coric are also aiming for a place in the last four.
(1) Daniil Medvedev vs. (11) Taylor Fritz
Medvedev and Fritz will be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers when they clash in the Western & Southern Open quarterfinals on Friday afternoon. This had the makings of an all-Russian showdown between Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, but Fritz came back from a set down to beat Rublev 6-7(4), 6-2, 7-5 on Thursday.
Fritz was the favorite in that matchup despite being lower ranked (No. 13 to Rublev’s No. 8) and he really should not be too big an underdog in this one even though Medvedev is No. 1. The American has been on fire this season, which is highlighted by a title in Indian Wells and a quarterfinal run at Wimbledon. Medvedev has lifted only one trophy this year (Los Cabos) and he has been unspectacular so far in Cincinnati. Sound the upset alert.
Pick: Fritz in 3
(7) Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. (PR) Borna Coric
Having missed more than a year on tour before returning this spring in Indian Wells, Coric–who is No. 152 in the world–used a protected ranking to gain direct entry into Cincinnati. To say that has turned out to be a good decision would be a gross understatement. Coric opened with a three-set win over Lorenzo Musetti, upset Rafael Nadal 7-6(9), 4-6, 6-3, and then beat Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2, 6-3.
Up next for Coric on Friday night is a third career contest against Auger-Aliassime. They have split their two previous meetings; Auger-Aliassime prevailed 7-6(3), 6-2 in the 2019 Miami quarters before Coric gained revenge with a 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-4 less than two months later in Rome. The ninth-ranked Canadian has also been in great form this week, taking out Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-2 and Jannik Sinner–from two match points down–via a 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-1 decision. It has been an amazing run for a resurgent Coric, but in these conditions Auger-Aliassime’s power game will likely be too much for the underdog’s defense.
Pick: Auger-Aliassime in 2
WWW?
Both matches could be thrillers….esp Coric vs AA….both playing really well. Med in 3; AA in 3.
Huge amount of bias in those selections. Let’s hope Coric gets it done as well for a clean sweep.
Well done Norrie. It would’ve been an injustice if you lost that.
Cilic was disappointing and Alcaraz has been shaky of late, so the upset (if you want to call it that) was always on the cards
Congrats to Cam, making it deep into tournaments these days.
Great mental attitude,he makes the max of what he has .Reminds me a bit of Ferrer .
You said very tactfully what I wanted to say! Not the most talented player out there, but boy, what an attitude.
Having watched him this week,esp against Alcaraz, I would say plenty of talent, just doesnt have a big weapon.
very accurate predictions😂