Tommy Paul (USA) vs Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)

H2H 2-3 Alcaraz

Out of every singles match, personally this is the one I will enjoy watching the most. Could be 0 and 0 but the points will be fantastic. Carlitos is the best in the world, and its tough imagining anybody will beat him. TP though has beaten him multiple times, and is one of the few players in the draw that has a realistic chance to beat Carlitos. Will he though is another question. I call Tommy a broke mans Alcaraz in the nicest way possible, but he does everything Alcaraz can do, just not as good. But Alcaraz is top 4 all time already, top 2 for me.On a hard court I would like TP chances more, but tomorrow a win would be the best of his life.

Prediction: Alcaraz (ESP) , hopefully in 3

Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) vs Alexander Zverev (GER)

H2H 0-1 Zverev

Zverev going to be trying to serve bombs, and Musetti back there slicing and dicing. Zverev is going to serving bombs and Musetti back there slicing and running around. He will need to use the slice to keep it low to Zverev, particularly his backhand. Because of his height, and the fact that he likes his backhand more than his forehand, the typical high heavy inside out on clay won’t be as effective for Musetti. Zverev doesn’t like variety or coming to the net so the short slice in particular and droppers, will be used by Musetti. Zverev is going to try to hit heavy groundies time after time and finish the point that way or with easy put away volleys once the point is already constructed. Zverev definitely the favorite, but again I am rooting for Musetti here.

Prediction: 3 sets, Musetti (ITA)

Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) vs Casper Ruud (NOR)

H2H 3-4 Ruud

As a Ruud fan on clay typically would be geeking about this quarterfinal. Lix has a tendency to just spray balls and not be able to find the court. Especially in big matches, he lost his first 9 tour finals when he first came on tour. That being said, he has a scary game full of power, great technique, and is still only 23 years old (for another week). Ruud is certainly the more consistent player but Felix is going to look to take matters into his own hands. He did however take Nadal to 5 sets in RG a few years back, with Toni refusing to coach, his own player, Felix. On the clay I think Ruud outlasts FAA and is too solid for him, going on to the semi finals to battle Djokovic.

Prediction: Ruud (NOR)

Novak Djokovic (SRB)  vs Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)

Tsitsipas is still holding onto that 2021 RG final vs Novak where he was 2 sets up. He showed tremendous promise early in his career, was up 2 sets to Novak in the final, and totally collapsed. He hasn’t been the same since. He probably replays the match and missed opportunities in his head all the time, and who could blame him. I know I would do the same. Maybe tomorrow is his revenge, the time he has been plotting for for 3 years. On the same court, against an older version of the same opponent. But that opponent I saw play against Rafa 2nd round looked like he probably wasn’t going to lose to Tsitsipas. His backhand is just such a weakness, and his slice is not great for a one hander. He’ll have to find forehands every possibly chance, and hope his backhand is like 2018 Fed tomorrow, and he can win. I don’t see it happening based on what I have seen the past few years, but I would love to be wrong.

Prediction: Novak Djokovic (SRB) straight sets 

Iga Swiatek (POL) vs Qinwin Zheng (CHN)

This match will be all 1ga. Queen got lucky to win her last two matches, escaping vs Navarro and then battling vs Kerber, who just retired. Zheng is certainly playing with nothing to lose and is 0-6 head to head vs 1ga. 1ga is already ready to put the gold medal around her neck.She just does everything better than every other opponent she plays on a clay court, unless they can take the racquet out of her hand, which Qinwin can’t. 

Prediction: 1ga (POL) straight sets

Donna Vekic (CRO) vs Anna Schmiedlovaa (SVK)

Donna is gonna have a tough turnaround after her last singles match going the distance in the quarters and finishing late 10-8 in the third. It’ll be hard for her to bounce back but the way she is hitting her forehand she might have a chance.

Prediction: Anna Schmiedlovaa (SVK)

Fritz/Paul (USA) vs Evans/Murray (GBR)

Fritz/Paul have won me over as a doubles team this week. Both teams have the long time connection, the energy, the spark, but one thing I underestimated was the Bryan Bros being in their corner. In fact I didn’t think about it at all. That obviously has to help and Evand and Murray have been winning off of sheer will and determination. Eventually that has to ware off, or does it? The Americanos need to win in straights cause the later this goes everybody will be remembering the two previous British comebacks.  Tiafoe and Sock retired Fed and now I expect two more Americans to retire another legend.

Prediction: Fritz/Paul (USA)

Krajicek/Ram (USA) vs Machac/Pavlesek (CZE)

Kraj and Raj next question. No actually Machac has cemented himself as a pretty good doubles player this year with Zheng. They made the semis at AO and quarters at RG. Tomorrow he partners with Pavlesek who is an established doubles specialist, typically with Uruguayan Behar. Look Raj and Kraj are the favorites and they do everything good on the court. These guys Machac and Pavelesek will complement each other well with Machac at the back and Pavlesek on the net, but Raj and Kraj experience and doubles prowess will pay off.

Prediction: Ram/Krajicek (USA)