Stockholm QF previews and predictions: Tsitsipas vs. Kohlschreiber, Fognini vs. Chung

Philipp Kohlschreiber has impressed while surviving a tough draw so far in Stockholm, and it continues in the form of Stefanos Tsitsipas on Friday. Quarterfinal action also includes Fabio Fognini and Hyeon Chung.

Philipp Kohlschreiber vs. (2) Stefanos Tsitsipas

Tsitsipas and Kohlschreiber will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers when they battle for a place in the Intrum Stockholm Open semifinals on Friday. Their only previous encounter came earlier in 2018 on the hard courts of Dubai, where Tsitsipas prevailed 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. The 20-year-old Greek appeared to wearing down in the second half of the season with early losses in Cincinnati, at the U.S. Open, in Metz, and in Shenzhen, but he got a second wind and won multiple matches in both Tokyo and Shanghai. Tsitsipas survived his Stockholm opener on Wednesday, edging U.S. Open quarterfinalist John Millman 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

Kohlschreiber was dealt a tough draw this week but he is through to the last eight thanks to three-set victories over Alex de Minaur and Fernando Verdasco. The German, ranked 19 spots below Tsitsipas at 35th in the world, saved six match points in the second set against Verdasco before eventually triumphing 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(5). Coming off a couple of difficult tests and with Tsitsipas back in fine form, Kohlschreiber’s run may come to a conclusion.

Pick: Tsitsipas in 3

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(6) Hyeon Chung vs. (2) Fabio Fognini

In the midst of an outstanding 2018 campaign, Fognini is still in the mix for the No. 9 spot in the race to London–which would get him into the Nitto ATP Finals if either Juan Martin Del Potro or Rafael Nadal (or anyone else) withdraws. The 14th-ranked Italian has captured three titles, finished runner-up in Chengdu earlier this fall, and is coming off a semifinal showing in Beijing. Fognini improved to an incredible 44-19 for the season by defeating Lukas Lacko 6-4, 6-4 in the Stockholm second round.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9rOYhdHG10

Up next for the second seed on Friday is a first-ever meeting with Chung, who has advanced by taking out Taylor Fritz and Denis Kudla in easy straight sets. It is already somewhat of a resurgence for the 27th-ranked South Korean, who has been dealing with injuries and had not won multiple matches at any tournament since Winston-Salem. He was 1-4 in his last five matches prior to this week. A more consistent Fognini–and no, that is not a misprint–will likely be too tough for an opponent whose last semifinal came on clay in early May.

Pick: Fognini in 3

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