Two Americans remain in the Winston-Salem draw as the tournament heads into quarterfinal action on Thursday. Steve Johnson is going up against Kyle Edmund and Taylor Fritz has a date with top seed Roberto Bautista Agut.
(6) Steve Johnson vs. (Q) Kyle Edmund
Johnson and Edmund will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers when they battle for a place in the Winston-Salem Open semifinals on Thursday afternoon. Their only previous encounter came two years ago at the Australian Open, where Johnson cruised 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. The 27-year-old American has continued to make strides since then, although this season has been a tough one off the court (his father passed away in the spring) and understandably not his most productive one on it. Johnson dropped nine ranking spots after his 2016 Cincinnati quarterfinal points evaporated and he is currently one more withdrawal away from being seeded for the U.S. Open. So far in Winston-Salem the sixth seed has taken out Yen-Hsun Lu and Carlos Berlocq in straight sets.
This marks a rare occasion on which a qualifier is ranked higher than a seed, as Edmund is No. 45 to Johnson’s No. 46. The 22-year-old Brit signed up for the tournament late and therefore had to navigate his way through qualifying, which he did successfully by making routine work of Max Purcell and Jonathan Eysseric. Edmund has since defeated Thomas Fabbiano, Daniil Medvedev (8-6 in a third-set tiebreaker), and Marton Fucsovics. Five matches under his belt the week before a slam is plenty, and Johnson has regained his form to the extent that he should be able to send Edmund on his way to New York.
Pick: Johnson in 3
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(1) Roberto Bautista Agut vs. (WC) Taylor Fritz
Bautista Agut was the Winston-Salem runner-up in 2016, he is the No. 1 seed this time around, and he has to be considered the obvious title favorite with only one other top 12 seed (Johnson) still alive this week. The 15th-ranked Spaniard is an outstanding 36-15 this year and he is through to the quarterfinals with routine defeats of Dusan Lajovic and Marcos Baghdatis.
Up next for Bautista Agut on Thursday night is a second career contest against Fritz. They previously squared off last fall at the Shanghai Masters, where Bautista Agut got the job done 6-4, 6-4. The 19-year-old Fritz has taken a small step back this year in part due to choosing fitness work over tournament activity, but he reached the Los Cabos quarterfinals earlier this month, won five matches in his next two Challenger events, and has advanced in Winston-Salem with victories over Malek Jaziri, Yuichi Sugita, and Paolo Lorenzi. In Bautista Agut the competition level ratchets up dramatically, so Fritz is likely in line for a difficult–too difficult–baseline slugfest.
Pick: Bautista Agut in 2
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who ya got?
Ricky I have the same predictions as you above. Great minds think alike.
Steve “Wonder” Johnson in 3!lol
I will also be going with the over here.
As in 3 set matches, anything can happen, especially in this oppressive summer heat. Yesterday Kirsten Flipkens was leading in 2nd set after smashing Ana Bogdan in the 1st set and suddenly started losing due to heat stroke. Even Magda Linette was affected by heat stroke and needed a MTO. Stevie has got cramps from heat before especially in Houston in April,2017. There is a chance that Steve can get get a heat stroke or cramp like before and retires or loses the match in the 3rd set. If Steve is 100% physically fit (But is he? ANY SOLID ANSWERS? With few matches under his belt and with his father passing away recently bearing on his mind and having some vacation rust.), then Steve Wonder(lol!), should pull out a hard fought wonderful win…dedicating it to his late father in the post fight speech!
Even tho Stevie has the H2H win in 2015, I might avoid Stevie(heat cramping and fitness issues) as Edmund has a very strong momentum coming into this match. Just going with the over here.
Bautista Agut (RBA) in 2
Agut has 2 much experience and will find holes in the young and ATP inexperienced(less) Fritz! But, I like the way this kid is fighting.
Fritz has g=faced easier opposition here compared to RBA. So. Agut is already battle tested and hardened to win this one in 2 or 3 sets.
Give me RBA ML,-1,-2 or more
Steve K in 2….RBA in 2….and US OPEN draw just a day or 2 away!