Denis Shapovalov versus Joao Fonseca is a must-see match that will certainly provide plenty of entertainment on Friday in Basel. Casper Ruud and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina also bid for a place in the semi-finals.
João Fonseca vs (9) Denis Shapovalov
Shapovalov and Fonseca will face each other for the first time in their careers when they clash in the quarter-finals of the Swiss Indoors Basel on Friday afternoon. Fonseca has struggled since a hot start to the season, but he opened with an impressive 7-6(6), 6-3 victory over defending champion Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Tuesday. The 19-year-old Brazilian then received a walk-over from an injured Jakub Mensik.
Shapovalov isn’t as equipped as his opponent, but he certainly won’t mind as he has a lot of momentum at the moment. The 23rd-ranked Canadian is coming off a semi-final in Stockholm and he has advanced this week with victories over previous nemesis Marcos Giron (in a third-set tiebreak) and an in-form Valentin Royer (in straight sets). If this match goes three sets, it could set records for both winners and unforced errors. And there is a good chance that there will be three. Shapovalov gets a slight edge based on his current form and history of indoor success.
Choice: Shapovalov in 3
(4) Casper Ruud vs. (8) Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Ruud ousted Shapovalov in the Stockholm semi-finals and then captured the title by beating Ugo Humbert in the final. The 11th-ranked Norwegian immediately got back into gear and secured a place in the Basel quarter-finals by beating Quentin Halys and Stan Wawrinka both in straight sets and in the second set tiebreaks.
Next up for Ruud on Friday is a sixth meeting with Davidovich Fokina, who is trailing 3-2 in the head-to-head series. They have played three five-setters – including their only previous indoor match at the 2019 NextGen ATP Finals – and a final-set tiebreak at the 2023 Toronto Masters. In other words, another war can be expected. Davidovich Fokina just survived one against Jenson Brooksby (6-7(6), 6-4, 7-5), but that was on Tuesday, so he enjoyed a full day off. In what will almost certainly be another energy-draining match, the 18th-ranked Spaniard has played less tennis in recent weeks and may have more left in the tank.
Choice: Davidovich Fokina and 3
#Basels #picks #Shapovalov #Fonseca #Ruud #Davidovich #Fokina