Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Eastbourne match.
In the quarter-finals of the ATP Eastbourne tournament, Jakub Menšík will be aiming to avenge his Australian Open loss to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The Czech advanced confidently past Reilly Opelka, while the Spaniard appears to have found form following a sluggish start to the season. However, both players have shown vulnerabilities on grass, indicating a closely contested match is on the cards.
Jakub Menšík
Currently ranked No.17 in the ATP rankings, Jakub Menšík has shown notable progress since the beginning of the year. Nevertheless, his grass-court experience remains limited. He has only once achieved back-to-back wins on this surface, and his two-year record of 4 wins and 6 losses underlines his lack of confidence on grass. Although he managed to close out his match against Reilly Opelka, the American was clearly not at peak fitness. In his previous appearance in London, Jakub Menšík struggled even against familiar opposition: he needed three sets to beat Cameron Norrie and then lost to Roberto Bautista Agut, again in three sets.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Ranked No.28, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina has been on an upward trajectory after a disappointing start to the year. He reached finals on hard courts in Delray Beach and Acapulco, and also made it to the semi-finals in Monte Carlo. His grass-court form, however, remains unconvincing: since 2022, he has posted 7 wins and 9 losses. That said, he has only twice failed to win a set in those matches. In Eastbourne, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina defeated Alexander Zverev and James Duckworth. Against Duckworth, he recorded 10 aces and saved 8 of the 9 break points he faced.
Jakub Menšík vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina Prediction
Grass is not Jakub Menšík’s preferred surface, and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina has also struggled for consistency on it. Still, the Spaniard has the game to trouble any opponent and is well-positioned to take at least a set off the 19-year-old.
