Stockholm QF previews and predictions: Paul vs. Murray, Auger-Aliassime vs. Van de Zandschulp

Andy Murray will continue his Stockholm campaign when he takes the court against Tommy Paul during quarterfinal action on Thursday. Felix Auger-Aliassime and Botic Van de Zandschulp are also aiming for a place in the last four.

(WC) Andy Murray vs. Tommy Paul

Prior to the beginning of the indoor fall swing, Murray had not defeated a top 10 opponent in 2021. Now he has toppled two in his last three tournaments. Having previously upset Hubert Hurkacz in Vienna, Murray got the best of Stockholm Open No. 1 seed Jannik Sinner 7-6(4), 6-3 on Wednesday. The 34-year-old won at least 70 percent of the points on both his first and second serves and saved the only break point he faced to advance after two hours and 10 minutes. Murray preceded that result by beating qualifier Viktor Durasovic 6-1, 7-6(7) in the opening round.

Up next for the former world No. 1 on Thursday is a quarterfinal contest against Paul. The 52nd-ranked American also hasn’t dropped a set this week, as he punched his ticket to the quarters with a 6-4, 6-2 rout of Leo Borg and a 6-4, 6-4 upset of good friend and compatriot Taylor Fritz. Still, an indoor hard court is not Paul’s favorite and Murray did well to conserve energy by knocking off Sinner in straight sets. This feels like it could be the Scot’s week.

Pick: Murray in 2

Botic Van de Zandschulp vs. (2) Felix Auger-Aliassime

Auger-Aliassime and Van de Zandschulp will also be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers. Interestingly, it is the 26-year-old–not the 21-year-old–who is just now making a name for himself on tour. Van de Zandschulp has won 16 ATP-level matches this season; he had previously won zero. A quarterfinalist as a qualifier at the U.S. Open, the 61st-ranked Dutchman has remained in stellar form this fall. His latest exploit is a quarterfinal performance this week in Stockholm, where he has ousted Nino Seradusic and Marton Fucsovics.

A semifinalist in New York, Auger-Aliassime has cooled off this fall. The 11th-ranked Canadian is just 4-5 in his last nine matches dating back to the season’s final Grand Slam, although he did well to beat Filip Krajinovic 6-3, 6-4 in his Stockholm opener. Auger-Aliassime is far from consistent at the moment and it will require a sustained level of impressive form to defeat Van de Zandschulp this week.

Pick: Van de Zandschulp in 3