We take a look at the selected Quarterfinals matches from the ATP Masters Series taking place at Flushing Meadows, New York, (Outdoor Hardcourts).
2020 ATP Tour | Flushing Meadows, New York, (Outdoor Hardcourts)
Western and Southern Open (Cincinnati Open)
Selected Quarterfinals- 26th August
Danil Medvedev (3) (5/10)
vs Roberto Bautista Agut (8) (15/10)
Defending champion Danil Medvedev is one of the front-runners who has looked serene this week. Medvedev (who claimed this title last year in a golden North-American Hardcourt season) was impressive on serve against Giron. He looked even better against Bedene, dropping just three points behind his first serve. The way he was running around that forehand was reminiscent of that US Open Final run from last year. He clearly feels right at home at Flushing Meadows. The Russian is moving brilliantly and looks dangerous from the back of the court. Bautista Agut will certainly test his movement as this match promises to be a titanic tussle from the back of the court. But can the Spaniard create enough chances off the Russian’s dynamic serve?
Spanish hardcourt specialist Bautista-Agut needed little time in dispatching Richard Gasquet in his opening encounter. His next match was an entirely different proposition. He had to come back from a set down to take down the uber-talented Karen Khachanov. He will look to draw on that positive Russian juju as he takes on Khachanov’s compatriot. Agut has a similar start to the season as Medvedev, performing very well in the ATP Cup. But the rest of his pre-lockdown form was entirely forgettable. But it would seem that the break has been kind to the Spaniard and he will be looking to make it back-to-back victories against Danil Medvedev. One thing that works against him is his relatively poor record at Flushing Meadows: he is yet to proceed beyond the 4th round here, like Roland Garros.
Their only previous meeting came in the 2017 Chennai Open Final, with the Spaniard emerging victorious in straight sets. But the Russian was a vastly different proposition back in 2017. I like the play for Medvedev to win in three. Bautista Agut showed some real character in that Khachanov match and may be able to steal a set off the wily Medvedev.
Novak Djokovic (1) (2/11)
vs Jan-Lennard Struff (34/10)
World Number One Novak Djokovic started this week in wobbly fashion. Djokovic has only won one Cincinnati title- back in 2018. But clearly the context is different this week considering the shift to Flushing Meadows. He looked jaded against Berankis, perhaps still reeling from some of his idiotic Coronavirus-related behaviour during lockdown. But he turned on the style against the wonderfully named Tennys Sandgren, demolishing the slightly controversial American in quick time. Djokovic will, of course, be using this as a tune-up for his tilt at a 4th US Open crown. Djokovic is the clear favourite for the US Open title after both Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer have decided not to play in New York. Next up for Djokovic is the pugnacious German Jan-Lennard Struff.
Something of a journeyman, Jan-Lennard Struff will be more with satisfied with his progression thus far. He has spent appreciatively more time on court than Djokovic, needing three sets to overcome both Denis Shapovalov and David Goffin. Struff did pick up a quarterfinal run in Dubai just prior to lockdown. Struff’s best performances have generally been on harder surfaces. He is a former semi-finalist at Munich, Metz and the Winston-Salem Open. He also beat compatriot Alex Zverev at last year’s Indian Wells event. But he will need to be at the peak of his powers and he will need Djokovic to drop a level. I just don’t see that happening after that Tennys Sandgren demolition.
Djokovic unsurprisingly leads the head-to-head against the German. He has won all three matches, including their first-round tie at this year’s Aussie Open. Having said that, Struff did manage to sneak a set off Djokovic. I think that 11/20 for Djokovic to win in straight sets is about as good as it gets here.
