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ATP Delray Beach: Quarterfinal Predictions

By Nate Slaymaker

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ATP Delray Beach: Quarterfinal Predictions

Top seeds Kevin Anderson and John Isner both lost in Delray Beach, leaving the title up for grabs. Fellow big server Ivo Karlovic and Ukranian Alexandr Dolgopolov are next up on the seed lines. Can they move on to the semifinal round?

For the quarterfinal order of play, click here.

Donald Young (USA) vs. Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR)

For fans of United States tennis, Young has been a bit of an enigma. The talent and potential have always been there, but the results haven’t shown up. Young has had his problems with the USTA and has alienated many who have rooted for him or tried to help his game. He seems to be over that disdain. He reached the semifinals last week in Memphis. He now follows it up with a quarterfinal in Delray Beach.

Top seeds Kevin Anderson and John Isner  both lost in Delray Beach, leaving the title up for grabs.

Young’s lefty serve can be very effective, but Dolgopolov is a great returner. Dolgopolov has some unrealized potential of his own, but is working his way back up the rankings. He currently sits at No. 24 is continues to climb. He has the ground game of a player who should be a fixture in the top 20.

The two players have never met. They will probably feel each other out in the beginning stages and then employ their specific strategies. Young will ride the crowd to a tight, hard fought victory.

Prediction: Young

Bernard Tomic (AUS) vs. Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN)

Tomic has ridden the wave of success from the Australian Open to a No.46 ranking and is climbing. He beat Dolgopolov last week in Memphis. He also has great potential and is learning to harness his energy to be used productively on the court. He sometimes reverts to a strange inside-out swing on the forehand that makes them fly wide, but he is learning how to be more effective when he gets a short ball.

Tomic will face a younger Nishioka, a 19-year-old from Japan. His wins over Igor Sijsling and Marinko Matosevic were his first of the year on the main tour. Nishioka is ranked No.154. He has a strong backhand and relies mostly on his ground game.

These two are both youngsters, but Tomic has learned how to win the points that count most. He will move on and has a good chance at the title.

Prediction: Tomic

Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE) vs. Adrian Mannarino (FRA)

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Lu is the man who took out top seed Kevin Anderson. Lu played a great match and has had some success against some top players in the past. He is a baseliner with a strong backhand and good retrieving skills. Following up a big win with another solid match will be his task.

Mannarino is ranked No.41 in the world. He reached the final in Auckland, beating Bautista-Agut on the way. It’s strange that the Frenchmen decided to play in South Florida over his home country event in Marseille, but it has turned out to be a good decision.

These two met last year at Roland Garros. Mannarino won in three easy sets and should be able coast to victory here as well.

Prediction: Mannarino

Ivo Karlovic (CRO) vs. Steve Johnson (USA)

Karlovic was recently ranked the best server in tennis today. While other top servers like Anderson and Isner did not take advantage of the fast courts in Delray Beach, Karlovic has used them to his advantage. He took out Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis in two tiebreak sets. Karlovic is not afraid of the tiebreak, where his powerful serve gives him an advantage.

Johnson has enjoyed a good start to 2015. This is his third quarterfinal of the year to go with Auckland and Memphis last week. He has upped his ranking to No.42 and is the seven seed in Delray Beach. His counterpunching style has served him well.

Johnson has actually beat Karlovic twice, both on US soil. Making it three in a row over the big Croat is a tall task indeed. Tiebreakers are likely, but Karlovic has enjoyed a great year as well.

Prediction: Karlovic

Next: Top 10 Servers in Tennis Today

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