Shenzhen QF previews and picks: Robredo vs. Bolelli, Cilic vs. Chung

Tommy Robredo and Marin Cilic will be featured during quarterfinal action on Friday in Shenzhen. They are set for respective meetings with Simone Bolelli and Hyeon Chung.

(3) Tommy Robredo vs. Simone Bolelli

Robredo and Bolelli will be squaring off for the fifth time in their careers at the ATP level on Friday. The head-to-head series stands at 2-2 following their most recent encounter at the 2014 U.S. Open, a thriller overshadowed by a controversial call late in the third set as Bolelli approached victory. Robredo eventually prevailed 5-7, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. The 33-year-old Spaniard has won both of their previous meetings on hard courts, while each of Bolelli’s victories has come on clay.

Following a first-round bye as the third seed, Robredo booked his spot in the Shenzhen quarterfinals by defeating qualifier Hiroki Moriya 7-5, 6-3 on Wednesday. The world No. 30 is hoping to win two matches at a fourth consecutive tournament. Bolelli got past Andreas Haider-Maurer 6-2, 7-6(2) in his opener then was hammering Victor Estrella Burgos 6-0, 4-0 when the Dominican called it quits. The 62nd-ranked Italian is a stellar 28-22 for the season, but he would most likely prefer to contest this one on the slow stuff. Look for Robredo to survive another extremely competitive contest.

Pick: Robredo in 3

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Hyeon Chung vs. (2) Marin Cilic

Cilic and Chung will engage in a rematch of a recent Washington, D.C. second-round showdown that ended at 2:27 in the morning. Finally on the court after a long rain delay, Cilic got the best of the 19-year-old 7-6(2), 6-3. The 14th-ranked Croat eventually made it to the semifinals of that event during what was an outstanding summer. He also reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon and the semis as the defending champion at the U.S. Open. Seeded second this week, Cilic opened on Thursday with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory at the expense of John Millman.

Chung is enjoying a breakout season in which he has earned 12 of his 14 career ATP-level match victories. So far in Shenzhen he has destroyed Di Wu 6-1, 6-0 and Aljaz Bedene 6-2, 6-0. Up to a best-ever ranking of 58th in the world, the Korean is coming of a hard-court Challenger title last week in Taiwan. Although Chung is in amazing form, the recent competition has been mediocre at best. Cilic will prove to be a much tougher test in what should be another competitive contest between the two players.

Pick: Cilic in 3

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