There are no seeded players remaining in the bottom half of the Rotterdam draw. Either Pablo Carreno Busta, Jannik Sinner, Felix Auger-Aliassime, or Aljaz Bedene will advance to the title match. But first it’s quarterfinal Friday.
Pablo Carreno Busta vs. (WC) Jannik Sinner
This week has been just what the doctor ordered for Sinner, who ended the 2019 campaign on fire but had struggled to get going this season. There is nothing quite like a free pass to the second round of a 500-point tournament and that is exactly what the 18-year-old Italian got after Radu Albot withdrew, because no one in qualifying signed up for a lucky-loser spot. Sinner followed up that fortunate turn of events by upsetting David Goffin 7-6(7), 7-5 on Thursday.
A first-ever meeting with Carreno Busta awaits the world No. 79 during quarterfinal action on Friday. The 30th-ranked Spaniard battled to three-set wins over Adrian Mannarino and Roberto Bautista Agut to earn his place in the quarterfinals. Although Sinner’s defeat of Goffin was impressive, his sample size of recent success is small. He will have to play his best match of the year if he wants to hit Carreno Busta off a relatively slow indoor hard court.
Pick: Carreno Busta in 3
[crowdsignal poll=10505682]
Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Aljaz Bedene
Auger-Aliassime and Bedene will also be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers on Friday. Like Sinner, Auger-Aliassime needed a productive week as he prepares to defend a significant amount of ranking points this spring. The 19-year-old Canadian had been a disappointing 4-6 this season prior to arriving in Rotterdam, but so far he has taken out Jan-Lennard Struff (6-3, 1-6, 6-3) and Grigor Dimitrov (6-4, 6-2).
Bedene is through to his second quarterfinal of 2020 (previously in Doha) following victories over Benoit Paire and Stefanos Tsitsipas. The 52nd-ranked Slovenian will likely be rock-solid again on Friday, but Auger-Aliassime wields more firepower and will dictate the outcome of this match. Although the world No. 21 may not be consistent enough to cruise the entire way, as long as he serves well he should eventually get across the finish line.
Pick: Auger-Aliassime in 3
[crowdsignal poll=10505708]
WYG?
Sinner in 2;…a revived AA in 2.