Montpellier QF previews and predictions: Sinner vs. Sonego, Coric vs. Cressy

The Montpellier quarterfinals are headlined by an all-Italian affair between Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Sonego on Friday. Borna Coric and Maxime Cressy are also aiming for a place in the last four of this 250-point tournament.

Lorenzo Sonego vs. (2) Jannik Sinner

Sinner did not have to pick up a racket before advancing to the quarterfinals of the Open Sud de France. The 17th-ranked Italian earned a first-round bye as the No. 2 seed and then got a walkover from Marton Fucsovics. It’s not like Sinner needs any help these days, as he compiled a 47-16 record last season and is off to a 5-2 start to the 2023 campaign–with a quarterfinal showing in Adelaide and a fourth-round performance at the Australian Open.

Up first for Sinner in Montpellier on Friday afternoon is his countryman, Sonego. Surprisingly, they have never faced each other. It has already been a much-needed productive week for the world No. 56, who booked a spot in the quarters by beating Benjamin Bonzi and Filip Krajinovic. Sonego won only one of his first four matches in 2023 and he went 2-5 in his last seven tournament matches to conclude the 2022 campaign. Even though this is Sinner’s debut match of the week, he should get in gear in time to take care of this contest in straight sets.

Pick: Sinner in 2

(3) Borna Coric vs. Maxime Cressy

Coric and Cressy will also be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers on Friday. Cressy has enjoyed plenty of success at the ATP 250 level throughout his career and he is adding to it this week–which is no surprise since indoor hard courts suit his game extremely well. All three of Cressy’s final appearances (one title) have come at 250s; the 51st-ranked American is two wins away from reach another after beating Antoine Bellier and Emil Ruusuvuori in straight sets to begin his Montpellier campaign.

After getting a first-round bye as the third seed, Coric defeated Arthur Rinderknech 6-3, 7-5 on Thursday. The 23rd-ranked Croat is just 3-2 in ATP tournaments so far this year and he got blown out by Jiri Lehecka in round one of the Aussie Open. This is a dangerous matchup against Cressy, who has fired 26 aces and has not been broken a single time through two rounds.

Pick: Cressy in 3