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Juicy action this Friday night: Picks for this week’s Estoril and Munich Open

By Myre Aberdan

US Sebastian Korda returns the ball to Colombia's Daniel Elahi Galan during their first round match of the ATP tennis BMW Open in Munich, southern Germany, on April 27, 2021. (Photo by Christof STACHE / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP via Getty Images)
US Sebastian Korda returns the ball to Colombia's Daniel Elahi Galan during their first round match of the ATP tennis BMW Open in Munich, southern Germany, on April 27, 2021. (Photo by Christof STACHE / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Miomir Kecmanovic has been in the form of this life this year, and is looking to go one further in 2022. In his 6th consecutive ATP quarter-final, the livewire 22 year old Serb will be looking to go one better and reach his first ATP level semi-final for 2022.

His opponent, Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili, has had a relatively sub-par season. Having bowed out in 4 consecutive first round matches (5, if we include a walkover at Indian Wells), Basilashvili will be looking to enter some sort of form heading into the middle of the clay season. Despite early success in February, making the final of a 250 tournament in Qatar, Basilashvili has had a quiet season,  relative to his top 20 ranking, and will be looking to make a statement come later tonight.

Across the European continent in Portugal, is a stunning line-up at the quarter finals of the Estoril Open.

Veteran Frenchman Richard Gasquet is into yet another ATP last eight. At 35, Gasquet is showing he well and truly can stick it to the rest of the young guns on tour, who are on average at least a decade his junior. The 15 time ATP title winner is still eager and hungry to add to his career tally, but has not won a title in nearly 4 years. Gasquet has also only won 2 titles in the space of 6 years, so it will be quite unbelievable if he is able to go on a run in 2022. Having made almost 100  ATP or grand slam level quarter finals in his career, Gasquet will come into  tonight’s match no stranger to the deeper end of tournaments.

His opponent, Sebastien Baez, has been one of the revelations of this year. Having made his first ATP level final at the Chile Open this year (despite playing most of his career in the second  grade Challenger tour), Baez has been striking some hot form on the ATP tour as of late. With wins and regular professional matches under his belt,  the talented Argentinian will be hard to stop in the future. With a quarter final to boot this year at the Cordoba Open, and a career high ranking (number 59), win or lose tonight, at 21, he is a star of tomorrow to watch out for.

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