A couple of all-seeded matchups in this week’s two finals will take place on Sunday, including No. 1 Jannik Sinner vs. No. 2 Diego Schwartzman in Antwerp. Meanwhile, Aslan Karatsev and Marin Cilic will battle for the Moscow title.
European Open: (1) Jannik Sinner vs. (2) Diego Schwartzman
Sinner and Schwartzman will go head-to-head for the first time in their careers when they square off in the Antwerp final on Sunday. This is an especially huge match for Sinner, who will pass Cameron Norrie for the No. 9 spot in the race to Turin with a title–one place out of qualifying position. The 20-year-old Italian is a man on a mission this week, with straight-set routs of Lorenzo Musetti, Arthur Rinderknech, and a red-hot Lloyd Harris
Schwartzman has also been incredible in Antwerp, with straight-set wins over Andy Murray, Brandon Nakashima, and Jenson Brooksby. However, the 14th-ranked Argentine has never won a title on indoor hard courts and only one of his four titles has come on any kind of hard court (outdoors in Los Cabos two years ago). On this surface and in this form, Sinner will likely be too tough.
Pick: Sinner in 2
VTB Kremlin Cup: (6) Marin Cilic vs. (2) Aslan Karatsev
Cilic has thrived at indoor hard-court 250s throughout his career, and that includes Moscow–a tournament he has already won twice. A return trip to one of his favorite tournaments has proven to be just what the doctor ordered for the 41st-ranked Croat. He has won eight consecutive sets without requiring a tiebreaker since dropping his opening set of the week to Damir Dzumhur. This run includes victories over Dzumhur (6-1, 6-1 in the last two sets), Tommy Paul, Pedro Martinez, and Ricardas Berankis.
Up next for Cilic on Sunday is a second career contest against Karatsev. Their only previous encounter came this summer in Cincinnati, where Cilic cruised 7-5, 6-3. Karatsev had also been relatively cold prior to this week, but so far in Moscow he has defeated Egor Gerasimov, Gilles Simon, and Karen Khachnov. This should be competitive, but Cilic is looking like the best player in Moscow and he has to feel especially good having lifted this trophy twice in the past.
Pick: Cilic in 3
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