There is only one all-American matchup in the Dallas quarterfinals on Friday and it pits Tommy Paul against Reilly Opelka. Tomas Machac and Denis Shapovalov are also aiming for a place in the semifinals.
(3) Tommy Paul vs. (WC) Reilly Opelka
Surprisingly, these two good friends and fellow Americans will be going head-to-head on the main tour for the first time in their careers when they clash in the Dallas Open quarterfinals on Friday. Paul and Opelka have squared off once before at the Challenger level, where Opelka prevailed 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 on the indoor hard courts of Champaign in 2018.
Paul is still dealing with the same left-should issue that troubled him at the Australian Open. However, the world No. 9 managed to reach the semifinals in Melbourne despite any physical problems and he continues to play well with a pair of victories in Dallas–albeit three-setters that were more difficult than they should have been against Jenson Brooksby and Ethan Quinn. More good news for Paul is that it should not be a particularly physical match against Opelka; points will be short. The 6’11” giant is coming off a three-setter of his own, having followed up a 7-6(3), 6-4 defeat of Alexander Shevchenko by beating Cameron Norrie 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 on Thursday night. Opelka is incredibly dangerous, but even on an indoor hard court this should be a favorable matchup for a great returner and counter-puncher in Paul.
Pick: Paul in 3
(6) Tomas Machac vs. Denis Shapovalov
Machac was one of the breakout performers on the ATP Tour in 2024 and he is showing no signs of slowing down this season. The 25th-ranked Czech owns a 7-3 record and his only losses have come to Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz (via retirement while leading by a set), and Casper Ruud (7-6(6), 5-7, 6-4). Machac has been in cruise control this week, beating Kei Nishikori and Rinky Hijikata in straight sets to book a spot in the last eight.
Up next for the sixth seed on Friday is a first-ever meeting with Shapovalov. The 54th-ranked Canadian has been all over the place in recent seasons, but he has advanced in Dallas with three-set wins over Miomir Kecmanovic and top seed Taylor Fritz. Still, it has been the typical Shapovalov this week: incredible at times but off the rails at others. That isn’t a recipe for success against an incredibly rock-solid and in-form player like Machac.
Pick: Machac in 2
WWW?
Fritz should never have lost to Shapo.
Paul in three.
Shapo was on fire in the third
When on fire, he on fire , but usually he damp squib…
Reilly will hold his serve until the bitter end.
Opelka win.
Tommy in 3; Big Mac Attack in 2
interesting nickname