Gstaad QFs previews and predictions: Fognini vs. Gulbis, Goffin vs. Haase

Colorful characters Fabio Fognini and Ernests Gulbis will headline the quarterfinal slate in Gstaad on Friday. No. 1 seed David Goffin and unseeded Robin Haase are also aiming for a place in the final four.

(PR) Ernests Gulbis vs. (4) Fabio Fognini

Fognini and Gulbis will be facing each other for the sixth time in their careers and for the first time in three years when they clash in the Swiss Open Gstaad quarterfinals on Friday. Gulbis is leading the head-to-head series 4-1, including 2-0 on clay. The Latvian got the job done 7-6(2), 6-1, 6-1 in a clay-court Davis Cup rubber nine years ago and 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 at the 2011 Nice tournament. They most recently collided at the 2014 China Open, where Gulbis cruised 6-3, 6-4.

After almost disappearing from the tour the past 12 months, Gulbis is finally resurfacing and making the most of a protected ranking while being saddled with an actual mark of No. 313 in the world. He advanced to the Wimbledon third round and is through to the Gstaad quarters thanks to victories over Daniel Brands and Umag runner-up Paolo Lorenzi. Fognini, a first-round bye recipient as the fourth seed, booked his spot in the last eight by beating and Norbert Gombos 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 on Thursday. The 31st-ranked Italian is a decent 21-15 this season, but he is a modest 9-9 since making a run to the Miami semifinals. With Gulbis’ confidence restored, Fognini may not be able to afford the wild swings in form that he often endures–and that he displayed once again against Gombos.

Pick: Gulbis in 3

[polldaddy poll=9797136]

(1) David Goffin vs. (6) Robin Haase

Goffin and Haase will be squaring off for the fourth time in their careers and for the third time this season when they meet again on Friday. While the head-to-head series stands at 3-0 in favor of Goffin, they have never faced each other on clay. Goffin prevailed 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-1 four years ago in Miami, 7-6(4), 6-2 earlier this season in Doha, and 7-6(4), 6-2 shortly thereafter on the indoor hard courts of Rotterdam.

The 13th-ranked Belgian has not yet regained his form since suffering an ankle injury at the French Open, and he is lucky to find himself still alive in Gstaad. Goffin trailed Radu Albot 6-3 in a final-set tiebreaker on Wednesday but ended up saving four match points before triumphing 2-6, 7-6(7), 7-6(7) in two hours and 25 minutes. This week’s top seed, who had to retire from his third-round match at Roland Garros against Horacio Zeballos and the missed the grass-court swing, is coming off an Umag quarterfinal loss to Ivan Dodig. Haase earned his spot in the Gstaad quarters thanks to straight-set wins over solid clay-courters Renzo Olivo and Thiago Monteiro. The 50th-ranked Dutchman is an even 19-19 at the ATP level in 2017. With Haase in fine form and Goffin clearly not yet back to his peak level, this is a big opportunity for the underdog.

Pick: Haase in 3

[polldaddy poll=9796844]