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TennisSection previews the 2023 Barcelona Open quarterfinal match featuring Dan Evans vs Francisco Cerundolo on Friday, April 21, 2023.

Evans vs Cerundolo Match Preview and Prediction

Dan Evans is on the cusp of a rare semifinal on clay, but he’ll need to defeat Argentine clay courter Francisco Cerundolo in the last eight at the Barcelona Open. Who will prevail?

Dan Evans has raised quite a few eyebrows in his run to a second quarterfinal this clay swing. He defeated the young Italian Matteo Arnaldi in his first-round match (Arnaldi is no slouch on the surface) in straight sets. And if to prove that the result was not a one-ff, he goes and slices Karen Khachanov to pieces in the round of 16. For Khachanov, having to play a big hitter like Jarry in his first match to taking on Dan Evans, it was a significant turnaround, with two opponents of varying playing styles and the Russian was completely thrown off his game. Let’s see if Evans can continue pulling off the upsets when he squares off against Francisco Cerundolo.

Evans vs Cerundolo Prediction and Pick

Dan Evans leads Francisco Cerundolo 1-0 in their head-to-head. That win came on the clay courts of the French Open last season when Evans shocked the Argentine in straight sets. Evans has been written off almost every time he sets foot on clay, but lest we forget he possesses an all-round game that is sufficient to attain above-average results on the surface. His slice is the game changer, it can completely shift the pattern and the outcome in rallies, and his forehand is lethal. But Cerundolo certainly has other aspects in his game that make him tough to beat on this surface and a more effective forehand on clay. Defeat at Roland Garros will play on Cerundolo’s mind, but on the back of that performance against Ruud, I expect him to be dialed in for his one.