Toronto QF previews and predictions: Medvedev vs. Hurkacz, Monfils vs. Isner

Daniil Medvedev is playing like the top seed in Toronto and he will try to keep things going when he battles Hubert Hurkacz on Friday. Gael Monfils and John Isner are also taking part in quarterfinal competition.

(1) Daniil Medvedev vs. (7) Hubert Hurkacz

It will be a rematch of a surprising Wimbledon result from earlier this summer when Medvedev and Hurkacz square off in the National Bank Open quarterfinals on Friday night. In a fourth-round showdown at the All-England Club that was postponed in the fourth set due to the curfew, Hurkacz came back out the next day and erased a two-sets-to-one deficit for a 2-6, 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory.

Medvedev should be able to restore order to things in this one. The top-seeded Russian is back on what is by far his best surface and he eased past James Duckworth 6-2, 6-4 on Thursday. Hurkacz will be making a quick turnaround after overcoming Nikoloz Basilasvhili 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-4 after two hours and 38 minutes late on Thursday night. The 13th-ranked Pole has been wildly inconsistent in 2021–disappointing, in fact, outside of Delray Beach, Miami, and Wimbledon. Medvedev is the far more reliable player and will likely get revenge.

Pick: Medvedev in 2

John Isner vs. (11) Gael Monfils

Monfils and Isner will be facing each other for the 13th time in their careers on Friday. The head-to-head series stands at 7-5 in the Frenchman’s favor, but Isner won their most recent encounter 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3 at the 2019 Beijing event. It should also be noted that the North American hard-court summer is Isner’s favorite time of year and he is 2-1 lifetime against Monfils in such situations. The 36-year-old is once again up to his usual U.S. Open Series tricks with his sixth Atlanta title followed by Toronto wins over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Cristian Garin, and Andrey Rublev.

While Isner is on an eight-match winning streak, Monfils has won two matches in a row–a borderline surge by his current standards. The 34-year-old Frenchman lost his last five matches in 2020 and was 3-10 this season heading into Toronto. Surprisingly, Monfils booked a spot in the last eight by beating John Millman in three sets and Frances Tiafoe in straights. A steep step up in competition will likely see a swift end to Monfils’ successful week. Any contest against Isner requires non-stop focus–especially on serve–and it’s hard to see the world No. 22 bringing that to the table.

Pick: Isner in 2