Four top 10 seeds are in action on the men’s side of the draw today! However, only two can advance to the Australian Open semifinals.
Enjoy our pre-tournament and daily Australian Open picks and predictions for the men’s quarter-finals matchups at Melbourne Park!
Andrey Rublev (7) vs Daniil Medvedev (4) – Not Before 11PM ET @ Rod Laver Arena
The two best Russian tennis players in the world will face off in the Australian Open quarter-finals when seventh seed Andrey Rublev takes on fourth seed Daniil Medvedev on Tuesday.
Still yet to drop a set, Rublev coasted through his fourth round encounter against Casper Ruud, as the 24th seed retired from the match while trailing by two sets.
This was the perfect result for Rublev, who essentially sealed the result while not having to play the full duration. Following his five set third round match, Medvedev responded as you would expect, with a convincing 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Mackenzie McDonald.
History for Russia 🇷🇺
For the first time in the Open Era, three Russian men have reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/NuXZ7KCyxt
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 15, 2021
Medvedev currently holds a 3-0 lead over Rublev in their career head to head matches, having won all three encounters in straight sets.
However, Rublev and Medvedev both have cases for being the form players on tour in 2021, making this quarter-final matchup all the more enticing.
Medvedev’s defensive, athletic and accurate style of play is tough for any opponent to penetrate. Rublev on the other hand is more of an aggressor who is capable of finishing points with his powerful forehand.
Both players will be loaded with confidence, however given Medvedev’s stalwart defense, superior head to head record and big game experience it is impossible to go past the world No. 4 given his form in 2021.
Head to Head – Daniil Medvedev (-270)
Games Spread – Andrey Rublev +4.5 (-120)
Sets Handicap – Andrey Rublev +2.5 (-280)
Stefanos Tsitsipas (5) vs Rafael Nadal (2) – From 3.30AM ET Wednesday @ Rod Laver Arena
Things couldn’t be looking much better for Rafael Nadal, defeating his first seeded opponent 3-0 in the fourth round and advancing to his 13th quarter-finals appearance at Melbourne Park having not dropped a set.
Nadal defeated 16th seed Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, nailing our games spread and exact sets predictions for his fourth round matchup.
Nadal will face Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park, in what will undoubtedly be the two players toughest match of the tournament.
13 #AusOpen quarter-finals for Rafa!@RafaelNadal beats Fognini 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to reach the last eight in Melbourne 👏 pic.twitter.com/6kYBfJH01m
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 15, 2021
Tsitsipas has had a very up and down campaign at the Australian Open so far, winning his first match in straight sets, his second in five sets, his third in straight sets and getting a walkover victory in his fourth round match against Matteo Berrettini.
Tsitsipas was the beneficiary of Berrettini withdrawing from the tournament due to an abdominal strain. Time will tell whether Tsitspas will benefit from the extra rest or be hindered by the lack of match readiness for his upcoming match against the world No. 2.
Nadal holds a 6-1 record over Tsitsipas in their career head to head, having won their last four encounters. The Spaniard ended Tsitsipas’ breakout 2019 Aus Open campaign, defeating the now fifth seed 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 in their last match at Melbourne Park.
Although he is one of the few players on tour that can match it with Nadal for power, Tsitsipas’ weaker one handed backhand will likely be his undoing, as the world No. 2 will look to target that zone with his own brutish forehand.
Power and experience will trump power and youth for this matchup as Nadal will once again progress to the semifinals.
Head to Head – Rafael Nadal (-225)
Games Spread – Rafael Nadal -3.5 (-115)
Sets Handicap- Rafael Nadal -1.5 (-115)
*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of Bet365 & PointsBet.
We’ve got 14 days of hard core tennis action, so strap yourself in!
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