Shenzhen QF previews and predictions: Murray vs. Verdasco, Dzumhur vs. de Minaur

Andy Murray will be back in action in the Shenzhen quarterfinals on Friday after ousting No. 1 seed David Goffin. Murray is squaring off against Fernando Verdasco, while Alex de Minaur and Damir Dzumhur are also part of the schedule.

(WC) Andy Murray vs. (5) Fernando Verdasco

Verdasco and Murray will be facing each other for the 16th time in their careers and for the second time in the last month when they meet again in the Shenzhen Open quarterfinals on Friday. Murray is still dominating the head-to-head series 13-2 despite falling to Verdasco 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 at the U.S. Open. Of course, that was the 31-year-old Scot’s first foray into best-of-five competition since Wimbledon in 2017; his comeback in best-of-three scenarios has been more encouraging. Murray delivered some decent performances grass, reached the Washington, D.C. quarters, and so far in Shenzhen has gotten past Chinese wild card Zhizhen Zhang and No. 1 seed David Goffin.

Verdasco crushed qualifier Jason Jung 6-3, 6-2 in his opener before outlasting Taro Daniel 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 on Thursday. The 28th-ranked Spaniard is a mediocre 26-23 this season, with a fourth-round showing at Roland Garros and a third-round U.S. Open finish (lost to eventual runner-up Juan Martin Del Potro). With Murray gaining momentum following his defeat of Goffin and in better shape for this one than for their showdown in New York, the former world No. 1 should have an edge.

Pick: Murray in 3

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(7) Alex de Minaur vs. (4) Damir Dzumhur

At just 19 years old, de Minaur’s fighting spirt is already well-respected and it was certainly on display in Shenzhen on Thursday. The 40th-ranked Australian trailed Mackenzie McDonald by a set and a break, five points from defeat when the American served at 4-3, 40-15. De Minaur, who crushed Yuichi Sugita 6-3, 6-0 in the opening round, ended up storming back for a 1-6, 7-6(1), 6-0 victory. He is now 20-17 at the ATP level this season, which includes runner-up performances in Sydney and Washington, D.C.

Up next for de Minaur is a second career contest against Dzumhur, who retired from their only previous meeting while trailing 6-2, 3-0 in Sydney. The fall swing was Dzumhur’s most productive time of year in 2017, when he captured two titles (both in Russia) and also reached the Shenzhen semifinals. He is one win away from a return trip to the last four following a 6-4, 6-2 defeat of Ramkumar Ramanathan on Thursday. Dzumhur is in far from spectacular form at the moment and he is not a bad matchup for de Minaur because he does not have the kind of firepower with which to hit the youngster off the court.

Pick: De Minaur in 3

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