NextGen stars have a monopoly on the bottom half of the Delray Beach bracket as they prepare to take quarterfinal Friday by storm. Australian Open semifinalist Hyeon Chung is facing Frances Tiafoe, while Denis Shapovalov is going up against Taylor Fritz.
(8) Hyeon Chung vs. (WC) Frances Tiafoe
Chung and Tiafoe will be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers when they clash in the quarterfinals of the Delray Beach Open on Friday. Having previously never reached an ATP quarterfinal, Tiafoe suddenly finds himself in his second in as many weeks. The 20-year-old American advanced to the last right in New York (lost to eventual champion Kevin Anderson in three sets) and has sustained that momentum with three-set victories this week over Matthew Ebden and second-seeded Juan Martin Del Potro.
Tiafoe just barely missed out on a spot in the inaugural NextGen ATP Finals in Milan this past fall, but now he gets his shot at Chung–who captured the NextGen title. Taking his game to even greater–much greater, in fact–heights, the 21-year-old South Korean made a run to the Australian Open semifinals. Nasty foot blisters that forced him to retire against Roger Federer also sidelined him from last week’s tournament in New York, but Chung is back in action with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 defeat of lucky loser Cameron Norrie and a 6-4, 7-6(4) success at the expense of qualifier Franko Skugor. Although the world No. 30 is clearly not at his Aussie Open best, he should be able to rely on his considerable ATP-level experience against an opponent who has never reached a semifinal.
Pick: Chung in 3
[polldaddy poll=9945158]
Denis Shapovalov vs. Taylor Fritz
It will be another first-ever showdown between two of the rising stars on the ATP Tour when Shapovalov and Fritz collide on Friday. The fact that they have never gone head-to-head should come as little surprise, because last year marked Shapovalov’s first full season on the circuit when Fritz–who enjoyed is breakthrough in 2016–was mostly absent. Both players are off and running this season, for which Shapovalov says his main goal is to win an ATP title. The 18-year-old Canadian is already up to No. 46 in the world and he has advanced in Delray Beach with hard-fought victories over Ivo Karlovic and Jared Donaldson.
Fritz soared to 53rd in the rankings during the summer of 2016 before plunging well outside the top 100. The 20-year-old American, who became a father in 2017 and also dealt with some injury issues, is back to No. 85 in the world thanks to plenty of Challenger Tour success already this season (one title, one runner-up, and one quarterfinal). Fritz is through to the last eight this week following three-set defeats of Sam Querrey (final-set tiebreaker) and Mikhail Youzhny. This could be a rivalry to watch in the future, but right now Shapovalov has to be the more confident of the two players at the ATP level.
Pick: Shapovalov in 2
[polldaddy poll=9945070]
who ya got?
It’s Tiafoe’s time. Up a set and a break on Shapo. I smell a maiden title