A marquee quarterfinal matchup in Washington, D.C. pits Richard Gasquet against Kei Nishikori on Friday. Vasek Pospisil and Santiago Giraldo are also in action.
(4) Kei Nishikori vs. (6) Richard Gasquet
Gasquet and Nishikori will be going head-to-head for the fifth time in their careers when they collide in the quarterfinals of the Citi Open on Friday. All four of their previous encounters have gone Gasquet’s way and he has won eight of their nine total sets. No set, in fact, has been more competitive than 6-3–so it is safe to say Gasquet has Nishikori’s number. They faced each other twice in 2013, when the Frenchman prevailed 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 in Canada and 6-3, 6-2 on the indoor hard courts of Paris.
Both men are making their 2014 U.S. Open Series debuts this week, although Gasquet also played in Bogota (lost to Victor Estrella Burgos in the quarterfinals) and was scheduled to appear in Atlanta but withdrew. So far in Washington, the world No. 14 has crushed Dudi Sela and Tim Smyczek. Nishikori booked his spot in the last eight with three-set victories over Sam Querrey and Lukas Lacko. Gasquet generally fares well on American hard courts and his form this week should give him an edge in what will be en entertaining battle of backhands.
Pick: Gasquet in 2
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(13) Vasek Pospisil vs. (10) Santiago Giraldo
What a difference two weeks make. Pospisil had been in dreadful form upon his arrival at the All-England Club for Wimbledon, but it all turned around for him–albeit in doubles–at that point. Teaming up with Jack Sock, Pospisil captured the Wimbledon title and also triumphed last week in Atlanta. He has now reached three consecutive singles quarterfinals, as well; in Bogota, Atlanta, and Washington following straight-set scalps of Rajeev Ram and No. 1 seed Tomas Berdych. Perhaps even more important than his momentum from Wimbledon, Pospisil is finally healthy after a spring marred by a bad back.
Up next for the 36th-ranked Canadian is Giraldo, whom he has never faced. Giraldo also received an opening-round bye as the No. 10 seed and he followed that up with routine wins over Benjamin Becker and Estrella Burgos. The in-form Colombian owns 25 ATP-level victories this year, including 18 since Miami. Giraldo hits a flat ball that he can keep low to an opponent who likes to hit up high in the strike zone, but a hard court should always favor Pospisil. Now that the 13th seed is confident, it will take more than Giraldo can bring in order to stop him.
Pick: Pospisil in 3
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