Spaniards David Ferrer and Roberto Bautista Agut are looking for spots in the Madrid semifinals as they take the court on Friday. They are set for respective meetings with Ernests Gulbis and Santiago Giraldo.
(5) David Ferrer vs. Ernests Gulbis
Ferrer and Gulbis will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers when they collide in the quarterfinals of the Mutua Madrid Open on Friday. Both of their previous encounters have gone Ferrer’s way; 6-2, 6-1 at the 2007 Montreal Masters and 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 last fall in Stockholm. Playing at home in Spain and on clay will only bring added benefit to Ferrer, who opened this week with a three-set win over Albert Ramos before turning in a clinical performance to beat John Isner 6-4, 6-4 in the third round.
Gulbis is in the midst of by far his most consistent year on tour. The 20th-ranked Latvian is projected to surpass his career-high mark of No. 18 in the world on Monday even if he loses to Ferrer. Gulbis is 21-8 for his 2014 campaign following Madrid wins over Jerzy Janowicz, Alexandr Dolgopolov, and Marin Cilic. He also reached the quarters at the Indian Wells Masters in addition to a title in Montpellier. The altitude will help Gulbis, but it will still be difficult for him to successfully end points as fast as necessary against an awesome defender and returner like Ferrer.
Pick: Ferrer in 3
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Roberto Bautista Agut vs. (Q) Santiago Giraldo
Both Bautista Agut and Giraldo are playing the best tennis of their careers heading into their first-ever meeting on Friday. Bautista Agut registers at 45th in the world and will soar past his career-high ranking of No. 44 on Monday, regardless of what happens in this one. The Spaniard’s 2014 highlights include a semifinal in Auckland, fourth-round performances at the Australian Open and in Indian Wells, and now a Madrid quarterfinal following victories over Tommy Robredo, Fernando Verdasco, and Lukasz Kubot.
Giraldo has maintained his fine form two weeks after making a run to the Barcelona final, in which he fell to a red-hot Kei Nishikori. The 46th-ranked Colombian is 18-11 this season, the exact same mark as Bautista Agut. Giraldo, also a semifinalist on the clay courts of Houston, booked his spot in the quarterfinals by defeating Lleyton Hewitt, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Andy Murray. Those are impressive scalps, but none of those three is in good form. In a matchup that could not be more even on paper and probably not even between the lines, home-court advantage could be the difference in Bautista Agut’s favor.
Pick: Bautista Agut in 3
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