Former college stars will be in force when the remaining quarterfinal spots are handed out in Dallas on Thursday. Eliot Spizzirri and Jack Pinnington Jones will face off, while Ethan Quinn will take on Marin Cilic.
Ethan Quinn vs. Marin Cilic
Cilic may be 37 years old and at the end of an injury-riddled career, but he is still going strong. Cilic was ranked 61st in the rankings, reached the fourth round of Wimbledon last summer and is off to a 4-2 start this season. The 2014 US Open champion followed up a third-round effort at the Australian Open by beating Learner Tien 7-5, 7-6(4) at the Dallas Open on Tuesday.
Next up for Cilic is Thursday’s first-ever meeting with Quinn, who advanced with a 7-6(3), 7-5 win over Trevor Svajda. The 21-year-old American is ranked 71st and is currently playing the best tennis of his career. Recent results include Aussie Open upsets from Tallon Greekpoor and Hubert Hurkacz, in addition to a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(11) Davis Cup win over Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan by four match points. Cilic will need to serve extremely well, as Quinn will need to have an edge from the baseline – especially from the forehand wing.
Choice: Quinn in 3
(Q) Jack Pinnington Jones vs. (WC) Eliot Spizzirri
It will be a rematch of some recent college showdowns when Spizzirri and Pinnington Jones face off for the first time in their professional careers on Thursday. Their college rivalry was divisive, although Pinnington Jones won the main match 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 as he led TCU past Texas 4-3 for the 2024 National Championship.
However, Spizzirri has made more progress at this level so far. The 24-year-old American has risen to world number 68 and famously had Jannik Sinner on the ropes in the third round of the Australian Open. Spizzirri has won eleven matches on the main tour during his young career; Pinnington Jones has won two after beating the ice-cold Flavio Cobolli on Tuesday. With Spizzirri playing great and ahead of the 22-year-old Brit in his progression, this should go the way of the former Texas Longhorn.
Choice: Spizzirri in 2
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