Zverev, Thiem & Fognini in action: Preview of the Hamburg Open Quarter-Finals

The last 8 players left in the ATP 500 Hamburg Open feature today with the top 4 seeds still in the draw including Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem and Fabio Fogini

 

This year’s Hamburg Open has seen a quality field including 3 of the World’s top 10 players battle through to the quarter finals. Here, tennishead previews all 4 matches that will feature consecutively on an exciting day in the German city

Jeremy Chardy v Nikoloz Bashilashvili

These two big hitters have only ever played once before when they met in turkey on a clay court last year. Chardy came through that match in two straight sets. Their rankings would suggest a comfortable win for Basilashvili today as they are 61 places apart in the World rankings with the Georgina man having seen a meteoric rise up the rankings in the past 12 months from No.81 to No.16.

But Chardy is no slouch an not long ago was ranked as high as 31. This encounter will be full of brutal hitting from the back of the court especially from Basilashvili who loves to smash groundstroke winners from anywhere on the court. But the Frenchman has a huge forehand himself and a great serve.

Hamburg Open Prediction: Basilashvili to win in 2 close sets

 

Dominic Thiem v Andrey Rublev

Rublev has struggled since a broken back in the middle of last season and is only now managing to get close to the form he showed in 2018 when he made the semi finals of the ‘Next Gen’ championships.

Thiem is riding high after a superb clay court season and he will relish the chance to play in front of a partisan crowd on a surface he loves.

These two have played twice before and the lats time was on an outdoor clay court at Monte Carlo when the Russian pushed Thiem all the way eventually succumbing 7-5 in the third set

Since then Thiem has continued to dominate on clay against all but the very top players whilst Rublev has stuttered.

Hamburg Open Prediction: Thiem to win in 2 sets

 

Filip Krajinovic v Alexander Zverev

Recent news from the Zverev camp can’t be helping his focus and his results throughout this rather disappointing 2019 season are perhaps showing the effects of the off court stress he’s been under.

Krajinovic is your classic European clay courter who’s made it to 3 finals in clay court tournaments already this season.

These two have never played each other before on Tour until today so the big question is can Zverev put aside other distractions and focus on showing his home country crowd what they’ve undoubtedly come to see from him?

Hamburg Open Prediction: Zverev to win in 3 sets

 

Fabio Fognini v Pablo Carreno Busta

The Italian enigma is having the best season of his life especially on clay after capturing the Monte Carlo Masters and moving into the world top 10 players.

Carreno Busta however is dropping down the rankings with alarming speed having been as high as 12 just a year ago.

Both players love the red dirt but can the spaniard deal with the delightful touches and movement of the Italian number 1?

The head to head record is a surprise as hey’ve played 6 times before with Carreno Busta winning all 6 meetings including 3 on clay and one this year. Is he Fogini’s bogeyman who will defy the rankings today and pull off another shock?

Hamburg Open Prediction: Fognini to halt the records and record his first win over the Spaniard in 2 sets

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