Dubai Tennis Championships 2023 Day 4: Men's Singles Predictions ft. Botic van de Zandschulp vs Andrey Rublev

The fourth day of main draw action at the 2023 Dubai Tennis Championships on Thursday (March 2) will feature all four quarterfinals. Six seeds will be in action on the day.

On Wednesday, all eight second-round matches at the ATP 500 event were played out. The likes of top seed Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, and Andrey Rublev emerged victorious, beating Tallon Griekspoor, Alexander Bublik, and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina respectively.

Without further ado, here's a look at how the four quarterfinals in Dubai could pan out:

#1 Alexander Zverev vs Lorenzo Sonego

Alexander Zverev

Seventh seed Alexander Zverev will take on Italy's Lorenzo Sonego in the first quarterfinal in Dubai.

The 16th-ranked improved to 5-6 in 2023, beating Jiri Lehecka and Christopher O'Connell to reach his first quarterfinal of the season. Meanwhile, World No. 67 Sonego also has the same win-loss record as his upcoming opponent after beating Marc Andrea-Huesler and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Zverev took the pair's lone meeting at 2021 Monte Carlos and should do so again.

Prediction: Zverev in straight sets

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#2 Botic van de Zandschulp vs Andrey Rublev (Defending Dubai champion)

Botic van de Zandschulp

Botic van de Zandschulp will take on second seed and defending Dubai champion Andrey Rublev for a place in the last four.

World No. 33 Zandschulp improved to 7-4 on the season after overcoming Karen Khachanov and Mikael Ymer. Meanwhile, the sixth-ranked Rublev (7-5) is into his third quarterfinal in 2023, seeing off Filip Krajinovic and Alessandro Davidovich Fokina.

Zandschulp won the pair's lone meeting at 2021 St. Petersburg, but the holder should take this one.

Prediction: Rublev in three sets

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#3 Novak Djokovic vs Hubert Hurkacz

Novak Djokovic

Top seed Novak Djokovic will take on Hubert Hurkacz for a place in the last four in Dubai.

World No. 1 Djokovic extended his perfect start to the season to 14-0 by seeing off Tomas Machac and Tallon Griekspoor. The five-time winner is now into his 13th quarterfinal in Dubai in as many appearances.

Meanwhile, the 11th-ranked Hurkacz is 12-4 in 2023, beating Alexander Shevchenko and Pavel Kotov. Djokovic has won all four of his previous meetings with Hurkacz, and the trend should continue.

Prediction: Djokovic in straight sets

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#4 Daniil Medvedev vs Borna Coric

Daniil Medvedev

Third seed Daniil Medvedev will take on Croatian Borna Coric to complete the semifinal lineup.

The World No. 7 has been on a tear, beating Matteo Arnaldi and Alexander Bublik for his 11th straight win to improve to 16-2 on the season.

Meanwhile, the 20th-ranked Coric is 7-3 in 2023 after seeing off Daniel Evans and Thanasi Kokkinakis to reach the last eight.

Coric, surprisingly, has a 4-2 lead against Medvedev, but the former World No. 1 should take the win this time.

Prediction: Medvedev in three sets