ATP Antwerp quarterfinal predictions including Tsitsipas vs Lehecka

Most of the title favorites before the tournament are still in the draw at the ATP European Open in Antwerp. 2020 runner-up Alex de Minaur, 2022 champion Felix Auger-Aliassime and two-time semi-finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas will be in action on Friday along with home crowd favorite Zizou Bergs. Who do you think will make it to the final four?

Predictions for the quarterfinals of the ATP Antwerp

Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Roberto Bautista Agut

Head-to-head: Auger-Aliassime 3-2 Bautista Agut

Felix Auger-Aliassime is definitely an indoor specialist at this stage and he proves it again and again. He won this event in 2022, which was part of a brilliant series of 16 consecutive victories and three titles in as many weeks (Florence, Antwerp, Basel). The Canadian also recently secured three victories at the Davis Cup. At the moment he seems much more trustworthy indoors than in general. That will likely take him past Roberto Bautista Agut, who is still solid at 36 but doesn’t really have the resilience or firepower to beat the top guys anymore.

Prediction: Auger-Aliassime in 2

Alex de Minaur vs. Hugo Gaston

Head-to-head: Gaston 1-0 de Minaur

Alex de Minaur is fighting for his qualifying place in Turin, but the injury from Wimbledon is still bothering him. Between that event and Antwerp he only played at the US Open, somehow reaching the quarterfinals but eventually collapsing physically against Jack Draper. But since then it has been a struggle to return to the pitch quickly enough, and after his opener against Roberto Carballes Baena, one has to wonder whether de Minaur isn’t rushing things. But if he is fully fit or even close to fit, he should beat Hugo Gaston indoors.

Prediction: de Minaur in 2
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Marcos Giron vs Zizou Bergs

Head-to-head: first meeting

Zizou Bergs made a dream quarter-final draw in Antwerp after defeating two opponents who simply weren’t comfortable indoors (Facundo Diaz Acosta in his first professional game in these conditions and another clay court specialist in Sebastian Baez). Now things are getting more difficult for the Belgian. But he has been waiting for a spot like this and has a higher ceiling than Marcos Giron. Technically he is ready for his first big ATP Tour run, let’s see if everything is okay mentally too.

Prediction: Bergs in 3

Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Jiri Lehecka

Head-to-head: Tsitsipas 2-1

Stefanos Tsitsipas has had a thoroughly mediocre performance on hard courts this year, needing to save three break points at 5-all in the decider to beat Thiago Seyboth Wild in the opening round. Jiri Lehecka has already beaten him this year with a sensational performance in Indian Wells. Things have gone a bit wrong for the Czech since the injury in Madrid, but he is now back in solid shape. This seems very close, Lehecka is more unpredictable but has all the tools to put pressure on Tsitsipas’ backhand on a court like this.

Prediction: Lechecka in 3

Main photo credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports