It will be an all-seeded showdown in the Mallorca semifinals when Alejandro Tabilo and Gael Monfils square off on Friday. In Eastbourne, top seed Taylor Fritz is going up against lucky loser Aleksandar Vukic.
Mallorca Championships: (4) Alejandro Tabilo vs. (6) Gael Monfils
Monfils is ultimately bidding for his first title of 2024 and the first of his career on grass. The 37-year-old Frenchman has a very good chance to make it happen in Mallorca, where he is the biggest name left in the draw and is through to the semifinals thanks to victories over Dominic Thiem, Roberto Carballes Baena, and Roberto Bautista Agut.
Up next for Monfils on Friday is a first-ever encounter with Tabilo. The 24th-ranked Chilean may be thought off as a clay-court specialist given his success on the surface and his Chilean heritage, but he is without question an all-court player. Tabilo grew up in Canada while playing on hard courts and his first ATP title came earlier this year on the hard courts of Auckland. He has found his footing on grass, too. The left-hander defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at Queen’s Club and so far this week has ousted Alexander Shevchenko and Jakub Mensik in routine straight sets. In what should be a competitive contest, Tabilo will likely have a little bit more in the tank both physically and mentally.
Pick: Tabilo in 3
Rothesay International: (1) Taylor Fritz vs. (LL) Aleksandar Vukic
It will be a rematch of last summer’s Atlanta final when Fritz and Vukic meet for the second time in their careers on Friday in Eastbourne. Fritz battled to a 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-4 victory for his sixth ATP title and he is now a considerable favorite for an eighth trophy (No. 7 came earlier this season in Delray Beach). In fact, the 13th-ranked American was already the last remaining seed in Eastbourne before he even played a single match. Following a first-round bye, Fritz defeated Thiago Seyboth Wild 7-6(4), 6-3 and Jerry Shang 7-6(5), 7-6(5).
Vukic is on his second life this week, as he fell to Yoshihito Nishioka in qualifying before getting a lucky-loser spot in the main draw. After beating both Fabian Marozsan and Alexander Bublik in easy straight sets, the 81st-ranked Australian got revenge against Nishioka by prevailing 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5). Vukic is playing well and likes grass, but he has played more matches (five) than Fritz has played sets (four). The well-rested top seed should continue to take care of business.
Pick: Fritz in 2
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tabilo in 2; Fritz in 2