We've got three quarter-final picks from Eastbourne today, and honestly it's a fun slate with a few storylines worth digging into. All three favorites have paths to the semis, but grass has a way of making things complicated.
Lexus Eastbourne Open Predictions
Toby Samuel vs Juan Manuel Cerundolo
Head-to-head: First meeting
Samuel is ranked 142 in the world and has had a decent grass swing getting here, but Cerundolo is a completely different level of opponent. The Argentine has been one of the more consistent players on tour this year and carries real ranking points form into this match.
That said, grass isn't Cerundolo's best surface and Samuel, as a British wildcard type playing at home, will have the crowd and nothing to lose. I think the underdog makes it competitive for a set, but Cerundolo's quality wins out over three.
Prediction: Cerundolo in 3
Ugo Humbert vs Quentin Halys
Head-to-head: Humbert 1-2 Halys
Humbert leads on paper as the grass specialist here, and his game, the big lefty serve and flat ball striking, is built for this surface. But Halys actually leads the H2H 2-1 and is no stranger to these conditions either, so this isn't a walkover by any stretch.
Humbert's ranking has dipped to 130 after a rough stretch and Halys has been the more consistent of the two recently. Still, on grass specifically, Humbert is the one you back, and I feel like the serve will be enough to drag him through a tight three-setter, all things considered.
Prediction: Humbert in 3
Jack Draper vs Gabriel Diallo
Head-to-head: First meeting
Draper's ranking sits at 160 right now but that's a product of injury time away, not form, and on grass at home he's a completely different animal. His serve and aggressive left-handed game make him genuinely dangerous on this surface and Eastbourne essentially sets up perfectly for him.
Diallo is a big server himself, though nowhere near as well-suited to these conditions, and won't be easy, but Draper wins this one.
Prediction: Draper in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Loic Baratoux/ZUMA Press Wire