Stockholm Open 2024: Tommy Paul vs Miomir Kecmanovic preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (4) Tommy Paul vs Miomir Kecmanovic
Date: 18 October 2024
Tournament: Stockholm Open 2024
Round: Quarter-finals
Venue: Kungliga Tennishallen, Stockholm, Sweden
Category: ATP 250
Surface: Hard-court (Indoor)
Prize Money: €690,135
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN | India - Tennis TV
Tommy Paul vs Miomir Kecmanovic preview
Fourth seed Tommy Paul will lock horns with World No. 55 Miomir Kecmanovic in the quarterfinals of the Stockholm Open on Friday, October 18. The winner will either face top seed Andrey Rublev or veteran Stan Wawrinka in the semifinals next.
Paul arrived in Stockholm with a solid 41-17 record for the season, having claimed titles at the Queen's Club and in Dallas. His most recent outing was at the Shanghai Masters, where he registered wins over Fabio Fognini and Alejandro Tabilo before falling to Tomas Machac for the second time in consecutive weeks.
In Stockholm, Paul received a first-round bye and opened his campaign against Laslo Djere in the second round. After cruising through the first set, he was pushed in the second but ultimately secured a 6-2, 7-6(2) win to reach the quarterfinals.
Kecmanovic entered the Stockholm Open with a 21-26 record for the season, with quarterfinal finishes in Acapulco and Eastbourne marking his best results so far. At his last event in Shanghai, Kecmanovic defeated Rinky Hijikata in the first round before falling to 20th seed Alexei Popyrin in the next.
Kecmanovic opened his campaign in Stockholm this week with an impressive 6-4, 6-4 victory over Cameron Norrie in the first round. His second-round clash against Nicolas Jarry was a tougher battle, but Kecmanovic held his nerve in the decisive moments to clinch a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(2) win and secure his place in the quarterfinals.
Tommy Paul vs Miomir Kecmanovic head-to-head
Miomir Kecmanovic leads Tommy Paul 3-1 in their head-to-head matchups and won their previous encounter 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-0
Tommy Paul vs Miomir Kecmanovic odds
(Odds to be added once available.)
Tommy Paul vs Miomir Kecmanovic prediction
Tommy Paul delivered a strong performance in his Stockholm Open opener, winning 78% of his first-serve points and firing 7 aces. While his return game left room for improvement, converting only 3 of 12 break points, his aggressive play saw him hit 27 winners with just 13 unforced errors. Overall, he looked much sharper compared to his recent form over the past few weeks.
Miomir Kecmanovic, on the other hand, began his campaign with a solid win and was pushed to the limit in his second-round match. He won 76% of his first-serve points and saved 5 of 7 break points, showing resilience under pressure. Kecmanovic also converted 2 of 3 break-point chances, highlighting his strength on the return. He impressively achieved a 100% success rate at the net.
While Paul boasts more experience and a higher ranking, Kecmanovic holds an advantage in their head-to-head matchups, also having won their only indoor hardcourt encounter. Paul though has a superior hardcourt record this year of 22-11 compared to Kecmanovic's 13-15.
Neither player has enjoyed an ideal lead-up to the Stockholm Open, setting the stage for an exciting clash between two evenly matched competitors.
The outcome may hinge on who serves more effectively and maintains composure during crucial moments. Making early inroads on return will also be essential on the faster surface in Stockholm.
Pick: Kecmanovic in three sets.