ATP Dubai: Quarterfinal Predictions

For a 500-level event, the ATP Dubai Duty Free Championships draws a very strong field. While other seeds have dropped by the wayside, top players have cruised to the quarters. The top three players in the world, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray, have reached the quarterfinals. So has No.4 seed Tomas Berdych.

The matches are pretty straightforward. Can the top four seeds advance to set up scintillating semifinal match ups? Read on to find out. Leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Click here for Thursday’s Order of Play and Geoff Nichols’ in depth look at the match of the day.

Borna Coric (CRO) vs. Andy Murray (GRB)

At 18-years-old, Coric is the youngest player ranked inside the top 100, currently sitting at No.84. He has made the most of his opportunity in Dubai, reaching the main draw as a lucky loser. Coric took out Malek Jaziri in three tough sets. In a strange turn of events, he also moved past Marcos Baghdadtis when the Cypriot retired due to cramps with the third set tiebreaker tied at 4-4. Coric has a good overall game and is an up-and-comer in the sport, but he has not had to faced the likes of Murray.

While other seeds have dropped by the wayside, top players have cruised to the quarters.

Murray came to Dubai after an early loss at the ATP Rotterdam Tournament. So far this week, Murray has looked determined to produce a better result. He took out the big serving left Gilles Muller in the first round and demolished Joao Sousa in the second round, only surrendering two games.

The two have played once before in David Cup, where Murray easily won in straight sets. Murray has looked his best in Dubai and should have no problem dispatching the young Croat.

Prediction: Murray

Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) vs. Tomas Berdych (CZE)

Stakhovsky is quietly putting together a strong month. He reached the quarters in Rotterdam, taking out Dominic Thiem. He also reached the semifinal at Marseille, notching the huge upset over Stan Wawrinka and losing to eventual champion, Gilles Simon.

Berdych has looked more focused this year than ever. He reached the final in Doha, the semifinal at the Australian, and the final in Rotterdam. The 13-3 record even had him as high as No.2 in our ATP Power Rankings. Like other top seeds, Berdych has enjoyed success in Dubai, finishing as the runner up the past two years.

Berdych has beaten Stakhovsky all three times they have played, most recently in two easy sets at last year’s tournament here in Dubai. Stakhovsky is playing better tennis this time around and should give Berdych more of a scare, but in the end, Berdych is just playing too well.

Prediction: Berdych

Richard Gasquet (FRA) vs. Roger Federer (SUI)

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