Citi Open 2024: Andrey Rublev vs Frances Tiafoe preview, head-to-head, prediction and pick

Match Details

Fixture: (1) Andrey Rublev vs (5) Frances Tiafoe

Date: August 2, 2024

Tournament: Mubadala Citi DC Open

Round: Quarterfinals

Venue: Rock Creek Park Tennis Center, Washington DC

Category: ATP 500

Surface: Hard

Prize Money: $368,585

Live Telecast: Tennis Channel (USA) | TSN (Canada) | Sky Sports (UK)

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Andrey Rublev vs Frances Tiafoe preview

Frances Tiafoe has been underwhelming in 2024 (Source: Getty)

Top seed Andrey Rublev will take on fifth-seeded Frances Tiafoe for a place in the semifinals of the 2024 Mubadala Citi DC Open on Friday (August 2).

Rublev has struggled with form and mental issues this season despite winning two ATP titles. The Russian had dropped five of his last seven matches before arriving in Washington but has been playing with conviction this week. He defeated Luca Van Assche and Arthur Rinderknech to reach the last eight at the 500-level event.

Tiafoe has been in the same boat as his higher-ranked quarterfinal opponent in 2024; the American had dropped 10 of his last 16 tour-level matches, most recently being upset in the Atlanta Open quarterfinals. However, the former World No. 10 has played some gutsy tennis this week, registering three-set wins over Daniel Elahi Galan and Aleksandar Kovacevic at the Citi Open.

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Andrey Rublev vs Frances Tiafoe preview

Tiafoe beat Rublev in the quarterfinals of the 2022 US Open (Source: Getty)

Tiafoe leads Rublev by a margin of 2-1 in their head-to-head meetings on the ATP Tour. Interestingly, all of their matches have taken place in the former's home country. The American defeated the Russian at the US Open in 2021 and 2022, and Rublev got the better of him at the 2022 Indian Wells Masters.

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Andrey Rublev vs Frances Tiafoe prediction

Rublev hits a backhand at Wimbledon (Source: Getty)

While Rublev has been a shadow of his past self this year, he is still a tough opponent to put away. The 26-year-old has adept groundstrokes on both wings, with his forehand being one of the hardest flat shots on the men's tour. He also possesses a good first serve and can find the lines on crucial points.

Tiafoe, meanwhile, doesn't have a forehand as good as Rublev's and struggles to penetrate the court. That said, he is defensively strong, varied in his shotmaking, and fast on his feet. Even though the World No. 29 has failed to play his best tennis this year, he is a dangerous player to face when buoyed by his home crowd.

The keys for both players in this match-up will be to set up their forehands with their serves, which will require a high first-serve percentage. The top seed is perhaps the more dependable pick, though, as he has historically been more consistent. The quarterfinal match at the Citi Open promises to be a cracker regardless of the result.

Pick: Rublev in three sets.