The 2023 Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag has arrived at its quarterfinal stage. Perhaps the best way to describe how eclectic the line-up is – 38-year-old Stan Wawrinka and 17-year-old Dino Prizmic are still in the event. Top-seeded Jiri Lehecka takes on Matteo Arnaldi in a blockbuster clash. Who do you think will make the final four?
ATP Umag Quarterfinal Predictions
Alexei Popyrin vs Dino Prizmic
Head-to-head: First meeting
Making the quarterfinals of an ATP Tour event at just 17 years of age is a phenomenal achievement. It does feel like Dino Prizmic’s game is a bit underdeveloped when it comes to facing top opposition, but this week his hitting has actually been a lot more fierce. The young Croat is very consistent too and that could be huge in this matchup. Alexei Popyrin is often a bit too wobbly on clay and his backhand doesn’t have to hold up.
Prediction: Prizmic in 3
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Stan Wawrinka vs Roberto Carballes Baena
Head-to-head: Wawrinka 1-0
Stan Wawrinka has been playing better than his results suggest throughout the clay season this year and it seems like in slower conditions, he can still get to the ball and blast away. Roberto Carballes Baena isn’t an opponent that has the ability to rush him either. The Swiss needs to get a lot out of his serve though as facing a grinder will require a lot of energy from him otherwise. Recently that hasn’t been his forte, so he needs some easy points.
Prediction: Wawrinka in 2
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Jaume Munar vs Lorenzo Sonego
Head-to-head: First meeting
Jaume Munar’s 2023 campaign hasn’t been amazing, so the back-to-back ATP quarterfinals are already huge for him. Perhaps he could also keep going as it doesn’t seem like Lorenzo Sonego is in any brilliant form at the moment either. The conditions in Umag seem fairly slow too and that should help Munar in his attempt to grind down the opponent. This is really tough one to call, especially with no prior meetings to help us out.
Prediction: Munar in 3
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Jiri Lehecka vs Matteo Arnaldi
Head-to-head: Lehecka 1-0
Jiri Lehecka defeated Matteo Arnaldi at the Next Gen Finals last year, but clay should give the Italian a much better chance. Both 2001-born players have improved so much this year and while Lehecka has had more success and seems like the sharper talent, he’s also a lot more inconsistent. Should be a great encounter and maybe Arnaldi is the slight favorite? His serve is probably better than Lehecka’s and his overall game is certainly balanced better.
Prediction: Arnaldi in 3′
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
