Vienna Open 2023: Singles draw preview and prediction featuring Daniil Medvedev, Frances Tiafoe and Jannik Sinner 

A total of 500 ATP points and a whopping $2.4 million will be up for grabs in Vienna.

Vienna Open 2023: Singles draw preview and prediction featuring Daniil Medvedev, Frances Tiafoe and Jannik Sinner 

L-R: Daniil Medvedev, Frances Tiafoe, Jannik Sinner (Images via US Open, Wiki, The Independent)

The 2023 ATP Tour is nearing its end with only a handful of tournaments left on the tour. The last two ATP 500 tournaments- the Vienna Open and the Swiss Open get underway on 23 October and will run parallelly. This means that the players will be able to take part in any one of them. 

While the Swiss Open will see players like Stan Wawrinka, Andy Murray, and Taylor Fritz taking part, the Vienna Open has a relatively young crop of players in Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Ben Shelton, and Jannik Sinner.

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The draws for the ATP 500 tournament were announced on Saturday. There are a few thrilling games lined up in the very first round. Let’s look at the matchups. 

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Tournament Details

  • Tournament: ATP Vienna Open 2023
  • Date: October 23-29, 2023
  • Number of Entrants: 32 (Singles), 16 (Doubles)
  • Venue: Vienna, Austria
  • Surface: Hard Court
  • Prize Money: €2,409,835
  • Defending champion (Singles): Daniil Medvedev

Top Seeds at ATP Vienna Open 2023

  1. Daniil Medvedev
  2. Jannik Sinner
  3. Andrey Rublev
  4. Stefanos Tsitsipas
  5. Alexander Zverev
  6. Tommy Paul
  7. Frances Tiafoe
  8. Karen Khachanov

Singles Draw Preview

First Quarter

Defending champion Daniil Medvedev is the top seed in Vienna and has been drawn in the first quarter. The Russian ace will open his campaign against Frenchman Arthur Fils who recently reached the final of the European Open, beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinals.

Daniil Medvedev USO
Daniil Medvedev (Image via US Open)

It will be an interesting challenge for the World No.3 considering Medvedev has not won a title since the Masters in Rome. He reached two finals (at the US Open and at the China Open) and one semifinal, at The Championships.

Although Medvedev has qualified for the ATP Finals in Turin, the Russian will look to gain much-desired momentum. Grigor Dimitrov vs. Lorenze Musetti will also be a key contest as the winner will meet Medvedev in the second round.

In the second half of the first quarter, Karen Khachanov is the only seeded player and will be expected to cruise through into the second round as well as in the quarterfinals. The Russian will face Roman Safiullin in the first round and one of Jiri Lehecka and JJ Wolf in the second round. If he manages to qualify for the quarterfinals (which is expected), he will meet Medvedev there.

Quarterfinal prediction for the first quarter: Daniil Medvedev vs. Karen Khachanov

Second Quarter

Greek tennis ace Stefanos Tsitsipas, seeded fourth at the Vienna Open, headlines the draw in the second quarter. Tsitsipas, who made it to the semifinals of the recently concluded European Open in Antwerp, will face wildcard entrant Dominic Thiem in the first round. It is expected to be a thrilling contest considering the head-to-head record between them.

Stefanos-Tsitsipas_
Stefanos Tsitsipas (Image via New York Times)

In the ten matches played against each other, Thiem and Tsitsipas have won five each. However, if the last five meetings are considered, Tsitsipas enjoys a slight upper hand with the scoreline reading 3-2 in his favor. The Greek reigned supreme in the last two meetings between them- in Madrid and England.

Now, as Tsitsipas plays Thiem in the Austrian’s den, it will be a challenge for him. But if he manages to go past the local lad, a quarterfinal spot looks guaranteed considering Tsitsipas will play either Aleksandar Vukic or qualifier Tomas Machac in the second round. From the second half, Tommy Paul, the sixth seed, looks settled to qualify for the quarters.

Quarterfinals prediction for the second quarter: Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Tommy Paul

Third Quarter

Third seed Andrey Rublev is drawn in the third quarter and has been pitted against Alexei Popyrin in the first round. The Russian who made it to the finals in Shanghai is expected to topple the Australian and then meet one of Matteo Arnaldi and Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the second round.

Andrey-Rublev_1
Andrey Rublev (ATP Tour)

Rublev can hope for a quarterfinal spot considering his form lately. The World No. 5 can then meet German ace Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals. Zverev is opening his campaign against wildcard entrant Sebastian Ofner.

The German who made it to the quarterfinals at the 2023 US Open recently bowed out of the Japan Open after losing to Jordan Thompson in the first round. However, it can be considered an aberration for the German and thus Zverev is expected to make it to the quarterfinals.

Quarterfinals prediction for the third quarter: Andrey Rublev vs. Alexander Zverev

Fourth Quarter

The fourth quarter looks most packed with Jannik Sinner, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, and Gael Monfils drawn together. While Sinner and Shelton face each other in what will be a rematch of the Shanghai Masters R16 clash in their opening games, Tiafoe will open his campaign against Daniel Evans.

Jannik Sinner (L) and Ben Shelton (R)
Jannik Sinner (L) and Ben Shelton (R) (Images via Tennis Majors, The Independent)

Gael Monfils, who clinched the titles in Stockholm meets Daniel Altmaier in the opening round. The fourth first-round match in the fourth quarter will be between Mackenzie McDonald and Francisco Cerundolo. The winner will face one of Sinner and Shelton. The American looks like the favorite considering he edged past Sinner in Shanghai and also the fact that Shelton won the title in Japan will play in his favor.

In the first half, Monfils is expected to meet Tiafoe in the second round. The winner will then meet Shelton in the quarterfinals. Monfils can be Shelton’s opponent considering the Frenchman has won a title and also beat Tiafoe when they met last time in Canada. Also, Tiafoe’s five consecutive first-round exits also don’t instill confidence.

Quarterfinals prediction for the fourth quarter: Ben Shelton vs. Gael Monfils

Semifinals

For the first semifinal, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daniil Medvedev look like the top contenders. This is because the two players enjoy a healthy lead in head-to-head record against their potential quarterfinal opponents. While Medvedev has beaten Khachanov in four out of five matches, Tsitsipas is unbeaten against Paul in three meetings.

Ben-Shelton-Japan-Open
Ben Shelton with his Japan Open title (Image via The Independent)

In the second semifinal, Andrey Rublev might just edge Zverev who has been struggling a tad in the last few tournaments. Although the German enjoys a 5-2 lead over the Russian, Rublev is expected to close the gap considering he has won the last two encounters between them. Meanwhile, Ben Shelton is expected to ride on his momentum and beat Monfils who has had a hot and cold season so far.

Final

Daniil Medvedev has enjoyed an upper hand over Stefanos Tsitsipas, leading the head-to-head record 8-4. Also, Tsitsipas hot and cold season works against him. In the second semifinals, Ben Shelton might just go past Rublev considering how the 20-year-old has upped his game whenever he has been challenged.

Daniil-Medvedev-Vienna-Open-2022
Daniil Medvedev with 2022 Vienna Open title (Image via ATP Tour)

In the final, fans might get to see a grueling battle between Shelton and Medvedev for the ultimate prize. The Russian is expected to just close the game and successfully defend his crown in Vienna.

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