Hubert Hurkacz vs Alexei Popyrin Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Cincinnati Open

Prediction published on 18/08/2023, 05:19  by Daniel Ngulu in Tennis Predictions

Unseeded Hubert Hurkacz and lucky loser Alexei Popyrin will meet on Friday in the Cincinnati Master quarterfinals. Hurkacz is having quite the tournament in Cincinnati and has already set a new personal record here. The one-time Masters 1000 champion has defeated a top-five-seeded player and the defending champion thus far. He defeated last year’s champion Borna Coric in the second round and then followed that up with a straight-sets win over Stefanos Tsitsipas. His win over the fourth seed, by the loss of seven games, propelled him to this round for the first time. This will have him confident of setting another record especially as he has won both encounters with Popyrin. Both meetings between the two have been on hard court with the latest coming earlier in the season at Indian Wells. Hurkacz has struggled a bit with a lack of consistency. He has compiled a 30-17 record with almost half, 14, of those wins coming on hard court. The 26-year-old has moved up two places to 18th in the live ranking.

Alexei Popyrin is back playing on hard court after an impressive clay court swing that saw him triumph in Umag. This was his first title of the season and ended a two-year wait for a tour title. He has carried that momentum here, though he did lose in the qualifiers. After defeating Ilya Ivashka, the Australian lost in three sets to compatriot Max Purcell who he might face again if he wins here. Granted a lifeline to play in the main draw in Cincinnati for the first time, Popyrin has grabbed the chance with both hands. He defeated fellow lucky loser Daniel Altmaier in the first round in three sets before being granted a walkover by Nicolas Jarry. To book this round, Popyrin battled for an hour and 40 minutes to defeat Emil Ruusuvuori in three sets. This was his 33rd win in 54 matches and catapulted him up to 40th in the live ranking, a new career high. The 24-year-old has claimed the majority of his victories, 16, on hard court and will hope to add to this on Friday. The winner will play either top seed Carlos Alcaraz or the qualifier Max Purcell in the semifinals.