Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daniil Medvedev remain on course for a potential meeting in the Washington, D.C. title match, but they have tough quarterfinal contests on their hands for Friday. Tsitsipas is facing Benoit Paire, while Medevedev is going up against Marin Cilic.
(1) Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. (10) Benoit Paire
Tsitsipas and Paire will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers when they clash in the quarterfinals of the Citi Open on Friday night. Their only previous encounter came two years ago on the indoor hard courts of Metz, where Paire benefited from home-court advantage and got the job done 6-2, 6-4. The 30th-ranked Frenchman is an obvious underdog this time around, although that is no real fault of his own. Paire is a respectable 24-17 at the ATP level in 2019 with two titles (the second and third of his career). So far in Washington, D.C. he has ousted Marc Polmans in a third-set tiebreaker and John Isner in straights.
Whereas Paire has plateaued of late, Tsitsipas is firmly on the rise. The 20-year-old Greek is already up to No. 6 in the world thanks in part to 34 ATP-level match victories in 2019 plus a run to the Toronto final last summer. Like Paire, two of Tsitsipas’ three lifetime titles have come this season. Washington, D.C.’s top seed is through to the quarters following straight-set defeats of Tommy Paul and Jordan Thompson. He is well-rested and will likely be too tough mentally in the pressure-packed moments, as well.
Pick: Tsitsipas in 2
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(6) Marin Cilic vs. (3) Daniil Medvedev
It has been a rough year for Cilic, to the extent that he carried a mere 11-10 match record with him into this tournament. Prior to arriving in Washington, D.C., the 17th-ranked Croat had won multiple matches at an event only once since the Australian Open (three en route to the Madrid quarterfinals). But could it be turning around for him just in time for the U.S. Open, which he won in 2014? It’s possible, as so far this week he has disposed of Marius Copil and Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets.
Up next for Cilic on Friday afternoon is a first-ever showdown against a red-hot Medvedev. While Cilic will likely miss out on a place in the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time in a while, Medvedev looks poised to make a debut appearance at London’s O2 Arena. The 10th-ranked Russian is an awesome 32-14 this season with ATP title No. 4 in Sofia plus runner-up performances in Brisbane and Barcelona. Medvedev, who punched his ticket to the Washington, D.C. quarters with straight-set victories over Bjorn Fratangelo and Frances Tiafoe, owns a clear edge in current form. His mix of spins and variety of pace will likely be too frustrating for Cilic in the end.
Pick: Medvedev in 3
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Cilic in three,Tsitsi in three
Benoit Paire in 3 as Tsitsipas is in a bit of form far better than that of 2017 when he lost in 2 straight sets at Metz. Paire is a far more talented than Tsitsipas and is a couple of levels above Tsitsipas in skills. Paire has picked up some nice form winning 2 matches here on hard court. If Paire is motivated for this match (which he is) he should win this match though it may be hard fought and ugly. Paire knows Tsitsipas’s Isner’ish & De Minaur’ish like straight forward game plans. Paire struggles against dynamic players (like Federer & Nadal) and players with heavy top spins & heavy power like Nadal. An inform and motivated Paire is a danger to any player in ATP! If Tsitsipas can play dynamically and mixes up his game to confuse/frustate Paire then he he can win today.
Medvedev can win in either 2 (40%) (if Cilic is intimidated by the Russian’s dangerous game or is not serious but just here for some hard court experience to prepare for the Cinncinnati Masters) or in 3 sets (60% if Cilic is serious).
Tsitsi and Medvedev both in 3.
Tsitsipas and Cilic in three
Very happy with the QF’s (both ATP and WTA) in Wa DC. I’m cheering on the ATP lucky losers: Gojowczyk and Gombos. Gombos has worked out well for my bracket after Anderson withdrew!
Gombos could bore and get Nick’s brain to go completely on vacation, thus Gombos winning the match. Or, I pray Nick keeps his head and focuses on the task to set himself up for the SF. Nick would be motivated by a SF with Tsitsipas or Paire. Nick needs this title and I hope he can play his best to win – one serious match at a time. It would be terrific: Do it, Nick!
I want a NK over Medvedev final!! Sigh…
Correction: Meant to say I’m excited about the San Jose WTA QF’s, not WA DC WTA matches. The best action is in California!
Sabalenka vs Suarez Navarro
Svitolina vs Sakkari
Vekic vs Ahn
Zheng, SS vs Anisimova
Kyrgios has looked fantastic this week. Physically and mentally 😅 I don’t wanna jinx him though. Gombos is playing with house money. Still expecting Nick to win that in two sets.
No, Nick does not need any jinxing!! lol
Watching Medvedev and Cilic. Cilic is playing better than he has on other surfaces, but he’s not as dominant or confident as he was in 2014. In 2014 his first serve was on fire and his 2nd serve too. And groundstrokes were powerful and unreturnable – he was a frightful opponent. Medvedev definitely has the better service motion but nothing spectacular other than the serve except I’d call him solid and consistent. Yet, I still don’t like him, for whatever reason. Paul Annacone is a BIG Medvedev fan – and he so annoying right now.
Gojowczyk said his toughest fight was against Rublev so far this tournament. I doubt Gojo can beat Medvedev tho. Cilic is disappointing – already lost the first set.
Medvedev also has a world class backhand, currently the best two handed backhand with djokovic, nadal and fognini (and zverev sometimes)
Oh I also forgot about paire’s backhand. What a beauty.
Tsitsi v Paire could be interesting if Paire shows up. Doubt Gombos can beat NK unless NK totally loses it, which he is quite capable of. 🙂 Sooo, Tsitsi v NK? I might actually have to watch that depending on how many tantrums NK throws. Don’t have a lot of patience for his nonsense.
This “New version” of paire almost always shows up. I think he can beat Stefanos, and I hope he does. Let’s go Benoît! Also I think kyrgios will be motivated and will do well here and in Cincinnati.
I think all versions of Paire showed up…the good, the bad and the horrid. Not sure even NK can out do Paire for the Bad Boy of the Night title, but I’m not sticking around to find out. Caught a NK’s commercial, bragging about his wonderful game. Right, now make one about his ranking…
LOL, I love a good speech by Benoit Paire! And that was the end of the match…..bagel, zip, zilch. Completely lost it.
tpas in 3; Med in 2…..and who is Caty McNally?!
Caty McNally – like you, Scoot, I don’t know much about her other than she’s another talented American teen… just seventeen. And right now she beat Hsieh in straight sets. The top seeds all disappeared in WTA draw Wa. DC.