One quarter-final pick from 's-Hertogenbosch today, and honestly it's an interesting one given that grass is probably Medvedev's least comfortable surface. Let's get into it.
Libema Open Predictions
Daniil Medvedev vs Marin Cilic
Head-to-head: Medvedev 3-1 Cilic
Medvedev leads the head-to-head comfortably, and that one Cilic win feels like a long time ago at this point. The thing about Medvedev on grass is that he's never looked fully at home there, but he's become so good at grinding through uncomfortable situations that it almost doesn't matter. His return game and defensive positioning keep him in points long enough to make things difficult for anyone.
Cilic is a former Wimbledon finalist and grass is genuinely his best surface, so this isn't a nothing match. His serve can still cause real problems and he'll have the crowd pulling for the big occasion. That said, Cilic at 47 in the rankings, a far cry from the level he was at during that Wimbledon run, isn't the same player who reached that final, and Medvedev's ability to absorb pace and redirect it should neutralize a lot of what makes Cilic dangerous. Medvedev in 3 feels right here, with Cilic nicking a set somewhere along the way, all things considered.
Prediction: Medvedev in 3
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Credit Image: © Matthieu Mirville/ZUMA Press Wire