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The fifth day of main draw action at the 2023 Rio Open in Rio de Janeiro on Friday (February 24) will feature all four quarterfinals.
On Thursday, the Round of 16 was completed, where the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Sebastian Baez and Nicolas Jarry booked their place in the last eight. They respectively beat Fabio Fognini, Juan Pablo Varillas and Pedro Martinez respectively.
On that note, here's a look at how the four quarterfinals at the Rio Open could pan out:
#1 Hugo Dellien vs Cameron Norrie
Hugo Dellien, playing with a protected ranking, will take on second seed Cameron Norrie for a place in the Rio Open semifinals.
World No. 111 Dellien improved to 5-3 on the season with a pair of wins this week. Meanwhile, World No. 13 Norrie has looked imperious in Rio, winning both matches in straight sets to 15-3 on the season.
The two players haven't met before, but Norrie should take this one.
Prediction: Norrie to win in straight sets
#2 Carlos Alcaraz (Rio Open top seed) vs Dusan Lajovic
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz will take on Dusan Lajovic for a place in the semifinals of the Rio Open.
The World No. 2 Alcaraz dropped a set against Fabio Fognini in the quarterfinals but improved to 6-0 on the season. Meanwhile, the 80th-ranked Lajovic won both his matches this week in straight sets and is now 5-3 in 2023.
Alcaraz has taken both his previous meetings with the Serb - including at the Argentina Open quarterfinals last week en route to the title - and reign supreme again.
Prediction: Alcaraz to win in straight sets
#3 Nicolas Jarry vs Sebastian Baez
Qualifier Nicolas Jarry will go up against sixth seed Sebastian Baez as a place in the Rio Open last four looms.
World No. 139 Jarry - emerging from qualifying - won both his main draw matches this week to improve to 4-1 in 2023. Meanwhile, the 35th-ranked Baez is 5-4 on the year after winning his opener.
It's another first-time matchup, but expect Baez to prevail.
Prediction: Baez to win in straight sets
#4 Albert Ramos-Vinolas vs Bernabe Zapata Miralles
Seventh seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas will take on his compatriot Bernabe Zapata Miralles in an all-Spanish quarterfinal at the ATP 500 event.
The 47th-ranked Ramos-Vinolas is now 4-6 for the year following a pair of wins this week. Meanwhile, World No. 63 Zapata Miralles has also done likewise and is now 6-4 in 2023.
Though the two Spaniards haven't met before, the left-handed Ramos-Vinolas should come up trumps.
Prediction: Ramos-Vinolas to win in three sets
