Quarterfinal competition in Athens ATP 250 is set for Thursday, when Novak Djokovic returns to the court. He’s facing Nuno Borges, while all of the cast shows Sebastian Korda facing Miomir Kecmanovic.
(1) Novak Djokovic vs Nino Borges
The Hellenic Championship marks Djokovic’s first event since the Shanghai Masters, where he advanced to the finals before being upset by eventual champion Valentin Vaperot. This is the 38-year-old Serb’s 250th ATP Tour of the season, having lifted the medal in Geneva in addition to the tournefinal performance in Brisbane. Quarts were just enough for him in Athens. Djokovic already has one match under his belt (a 7-6 (3), 6-1 defeat of Alejandro Tabilo on Tuesday) and probably doesn’t need more than two by participating in the NITTTO ATP Finals starting on Sunday or Monday.
Next up for the 24-time Champion on Thursday is the first ever meeting with Borges. The world 47 from Portugal does not go for big wins, as he beat Rafael Nadal in the final of the ATP Clay Clay Clay-County last summer (bastad). The Spaniard was clearly the epitome of true adventure at the time, but getting the best of Nadal at the end of the clay court is impressive by any means. Borges, who has knocked out Stefanos Sakellaridis and Eliot Spizzirri so far this week, will not be afraid for a moment. A sad warning sounded.
Choose: Borges in 3
Sebastian Korda vs. Miomir Kecmanovic
Korda and KecManovic will be in debt for the fourth time in their careers on Thursday. The head-to-head series stands at 2-1 in favor of Korda, who has won twice this season – 6-3, 7-6 (4) in Adelaide and 6-1, 6-4 in Winston-Salem. KecManovic’s lone win has come in a 7-6 (4), 6-3 decision at the Miami Masters.
KecManovic has already defeated two Form opponents this week in Kamil Majchrzak and Luciano Darderi. Korda is coming off back-to-back fights with Alexei Popyrin and Damir Dzumhur, so the American-ranked-numbered American could be in danger even though he is the favorite on paper. It is also worth noting that Korda has recently been attacked with the first losses in Basel (Ugo Humbert) and Paris (Lorenzo Sonego) and the exact same levels despite two wins until the end of Athens.
Pick: Kecmanovic in 3
