Barcelona Open: Davidovich Fokina vs Ruusuvuori Tennis Prediction & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Barcelona Open round of 16 match featuring Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Emil Ruusuvuori on Thursday, April 20, 2023.

Davidovich Fokina vs Ruusuvuori Match Preview and Prediction

A fifth quarterfinal of the season beckons for Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. But Emil Ruusuvuori is not making up the numbers this week. Who will prevail and reach the quarterfinal of the Barcelona Open?

It’s not been a great couple of weeks coming to the Barcelona Open for Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The man nicknamed ”Foki” has dropped down to 38th in the rankings, up from a career-high No. 24. But he is looking to make up for 600 lost points at the Principality, standing one match away from reaching his fifth quarterfinal this year. But he won’t have it easy against Frances Tiafoe’s conqueror Emil Ruusuvuori.

Emil Ruusuvuori, meanwhile, survived a spirited fightback from American Frances Tiafoe to score his first top-20 win this year. The Finn came from a break down in the decider to complete a 6-4, 6-7, 6-4 win in two hours and 45 minutes. With just two spots separating him and Davidovich Fokina, this round of 16 match could be a straight shootout on who will retain a top 40 spot this week.

Davidovich Fokina vs Ruusuvuori Prediction and Pick

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Emil Ruusuvuori are tied at 1-1 in their head-to-head. But these two players haven’t clashed since 2020. With just two wins from six matches coming to the Barcelona Open, Davidovich Fokina managed to steady the ship and turned around his fortunes, notching his first main draw win at the event by beating Argentine clay-courter Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Ruusuvuori’s win over Tiafoe means that the Finn will be brimming with confidence and potentially looking to take advantage of any potential cracks in the Spaniard’s game. But still, on this surface, Foki has the tools to control Ruusuvuori’s power and attack at will.