Tennis Friday: Abrams picks ATP Antalya, Eastbourne semis–Fritz v Edmund, Querrey v Fabbiano, Kecmanovic v Thompson, Carreno Busta v Sonego
Nature Valley International
Eastbourne, Great Britain
Friday Men’s Singles picks
Taylor Fritz over Kyle Edmund
Kyle Edmund made a wonderful comeback, marshaling all his resources and finally besting the resilient and artful Dan Evans 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the quarters on Thursday. But Taylor Fritz outserved and ran over Hubert Hurkacz, as sparks shot out of his puppies when he tracked down balls and turned them into crisp winners in the other quarter. Fritz looks like a man of destiny to me here leading up to Wimbledon, and I think he’s got too much cannon fodder for the noble Brit.
Sam Querrey over Thomas Fabbiano
Sam Querrey seems to have returned to the Garden of Eden in one short week of work on the grass here in Britain. He dashed Fernando Verdasco’s title visions with an efficient 7-6, 6-2 win where he relied on his trusty serve and powerful forehand. And although Thomas Fabbiano had an easy time with the red hot Gilles Simon, it was more a reflection of Simon’s fatigue and frustration than it was of Fabbiano’s brilliant play. Querrey should power Fabbiano off the court and book an all-American final. Now when was the last time you read that?
Turkish Airlines Open Antalya
Antalya, Turkey
Friday Men’s Singles picks
Miomir Kecmanovic over Jordan Thompson
Jordan Thompson had an easy time in the quarters, having only to win one set before Damir Dzumhur retired. But Miomir Kecmanovic simply dismantled Victor Troiki 3 and 4, showing off his powerful serve, that acts like a cannon on the grass courts here in Turkey. Kecmanovic’s power game should be too much for Thompson, a stellar grass court player, himself.
Pablo Carreno Busta over Lorenzo Sonego
These two dirtballers were expected to struggle on the grass, but both have managed to master the art of slick court tennis pretty quickly. Carreno Busta took out the surprising and suddenly resurgent Bernie Tomic 6-4 in the third and Sonego overcame France’s surging Adrian Mannarino, pushing into the semis here. I like Carreno Busta beause he’s a more consistent player, and he looks faster than Sonego, a crucial part of grass court play. But, frankly, the loser of these semifinal matches may end up being the winners as they’ll get an extra day of rest before the Renaissance Faire of Wimbledon begins next week