Rotterdam Open: Medvedev vs Auger-Aliassime Tennis Prediction

TennisSection previews the 2023 Rotterdam Open as Daniil Medvedev takes on Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarterfinal on Friday, February 17, 2023.

It promises to be a mouthwatering quarterfinal on Friday at the Rotterdam Open. Former World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev will lock horns against defending champion Felix Auger-Aliassime. Who will prevail?

Daniil Medvedev will be looking to reach his second semifinal of the season, and potentially go on to win his first ATP title since Vienna last year. The Russian has suffered a big fall from grace, but a wounded Medvedev is a man you can never count out and particularly on the back of two searing wins this week at the Rotterdam Open. Medvedev’s only drop in level came in the first set against Davidovich Fokina in his first match but has turned things around in terrific fashion, winning each set in his last two matches 6-2 6-2.

Felix Auger-Aliassime, meanwhile, overcame a rocky start to the season by playing himself into form at the Rotterdam Open. The defending champion opened up with a 6-2 6-3 win over big-hitting Italian Lorenzo Sonego. Then he accounted for another straight-sets win on Thursday, beating the dangerous qualifier Gregoire Barrere 6-4 6-3. He will attempt to win against Daniil Medvedev for the first time at the fifth attempt.

Daniil Medvedev leads Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-0 in their head-to-head. Despite the Canadian’s best efforts to end his hoodoo against the Russian, he squandered a two-sets-to-love lead in last year’s memorable Australian Open semifinal. Auger-Aliassime will need his first serve to work wonders here. He landed just 50% of first serves against Barrere on Thursday at the Rotterdam Open. A player like Medvedev who patrols around the court with incredulous footwork will be all over the Canadian’s second serve to try and keep his opponent engaged in rallies. It is a lopsided rivalry but Auger-Aliassime is not the sort of player Medvedev usually prefers to play against. This should be a close another fiercely contested battle, and while the games spread might be the wisest move, we still think Medvedev will have enough in his locker to hurt Auger-Aliassime again.