TennisSection previews the 2022 Qatar Open as Alejandro Davidovich Fokina takes on Roberto Bautista Agut in the quarterfinal on Thursday, February 17th, 2022.
It will be an all-Spanish affair in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open, which ironically prevented an all-British meeting. Davidovich Fokina stunned Dan Evans, while Roberto Bautista Agut made light work of Andy Murray in the previous round. So who will now advance into the semifinals?
It wasn’t a good day for the Brits at the Qatar Open on Wednesday. Their highest-ranked player in the draw Dan Evans fell at the hands of Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The flamboyant Spaniard recovered from losing the first set, by doubling his ace count in the next two sets and only dropped one service game thereafter. Evans, for all of his craft and tactical nous, was left to rue his inability to protect a set and a break lead in the match. Davidovich Fokina has now scored his first top 30 win of the season and sets up an enticing encounter against compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut.
Roberto Bautista Agut, for his part, showed little empathy towards Andy Murray. In a rematch of their memorable Australian Open meeting from three years ago, Bautista Agut handed Murray one of the most chastening defeats of his career in a 6-0 6-1 rout. Murray’s serve imploded dramatically. He won just eight points behind his first serve, and only seven behind his second. Murray had no chance of competing with the Spaniard with such appalling numbers. It is still unclear whether the Briton might have been carrying an injury coming into the match. But nonetheless, Bautista Agut improves to 10-2 at the Qatar Open and is seeking his second title in Doha.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina leads Roberto Bautista Agut 1-0 in their head-to-head. That win came on the indoor hard courts of Rotterdam where Davidovich Fokina defeated his experienced compatriot in straight sets. Both players come into Thursday’s quarterfinal at the Qatar Open in fine spirits. Davidovich Fokina has the tools to make things a little problematic for Bautista Agut. But the 2019 champion showed no signs of vulnerability in his opening match. I expect the World No. 16 to maintain his outstanding record in these shores.
Free Tennis Pick and Prediction: Roberto Bautista Agut to win in 3 sets.
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