Preview Canadian Open ATP Quarter-Finals: Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur lead Toronto title battle

The previous meetings signal favourably towards Zverev, who has not dropped a set in the three previous meetings. Zverev will use his massive serving to his advantage, but that will not be enough to beat a rejuvenated Popyrin, with him starting to find his best level of tennis again. Zverev will go into it as the firm favourite, but with the upsets the Aussie has produced so far this week, it may not be as simple on paper.

Match Info: Alexander Zverev - Alexei Popyrin

Start time (local): Mon, 4 Aug, 7:00 PM

Start time (your time): Tue, 5 Aug, 7:00 AM

Court: Center Court

Tournament: National Bank Open Presented by Rogers

Round: Quarterfinal

Head-to-Head

Alex Michelsen vs. Karen Khachanov

One of two Russians to progress this far, Karen Khachanov has waltzed his way through to the quarter-finals. A comfortable 6-4, 6-2 win over qualifier Juan Pablo Ficovich was followed by a tie against fellow qualifier Emilio Nava.

Khachanov broke back to make it 5-5, but would go on to lose the tiebreaker 8-6. In a tense second set, he saved early break points from the American before breaking the serve later in the game to level the score. He won the last six games to win the match 6-7, 6-4, 6-1.

A tricky tie would follow in the form of Casper Ruud, who had returned to action following him missing the grass season. The Wimbledon quarter-finalist played some great tennis against the two-time grand slam runner-up, beating the Norwegian 6-4, 7-5.

It has been an impressive run from Alex Michelsen so far in Toronto, beating Chilean qualifier Tomas Barrios Vera 7-6, 6-3 to set up a tie with Roland Garros semi-finalist Lorenzo Musetti. It looked like the Italian would be too strong for the American, winning the first set in controlling fashion. Michelsen would respond well, coming out on top in two tight sets to progress to the round of 16.

Despite this, Michelsen has proved he can get the better of the world number 16, and with how he has played this week, he will be going into this game with a lot of confidence. If he can deal with the big serving and ground strokes of Khachanov, he has the ability to grind out a result.

He made light work of Learner Tien, beating his fellow American 6-3, 6-3 to set up a quarter-final clash against Khachanov.

The pair faced off in the Australian Open, where Michelsen got the better of Khachanov 6-3, 7-6, 6-2 to progress to the last 16. Thsi is their only meeting, with the Russian looking for vengance. He will go into the tie as the favourite after playing some great tennis this week. He enjoys the hard courts, with his aggressive style of play suiting to the surface.

Match Info: Alex Michelsen - Karen Khachanov

Start time (local): Mon, 4 Aug, 8:10 PM

Start time (your time): Tue, 5 Aug, 8:10 AM

Court: Center Court

Tournament: National Bank Open Presented by Rogers

Round: Quarterfinal

Head-to-Head

Alex de Minaur vs. Ben Shelton

Alex de Minaur has had some fortune in his run to his second Masters 1000 quarter-final of the season. The Washington Champion started his Toronto campaign in similar fashion, winning his first game comfortably, 6-4, 6-2 over Francisco Comesana.

Despite doubles disappointment, the Aussie got through to the fourth round without even hitting a ball, aided by Christopher O'Connell pulling out. It would give de Minaur the extra rest needed for his round-of-16 tie against American Frances Tiafoe.

It looked good early on for de Minuar, winning the first four games on the way to the first set. Despite this, Tiafoe fought back to win the second set with a late break of serve. However, the Aussie proved too strong for the number seven seed, coming out on top 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.

If Tiafoe progressed, it would have been an all-American quarter-final in Toronto with Ben Shelton the opponent.

He walked through his first game 6-2, 6-3 against Adrian Mannarino before being just squeaking out on top against fellow countryman Brandon Nakashima 6-7, 6-2, 7-6. At the same time, he was also making progress in the doubles, winning his first two games with partner Arthur Fils.

A confrontation between him and Flavio Cobolli overshadowed what was a tight game, with Shelton again just coming out on top 6-4, 4-6, 7-6. At one point, the Italian served for the match, but Shelton managed to stay in it.

That grit and determination will be needed against the energetic de Minaur. The Aussie goes into the game a lot fresher than his opponent, having played only three games in singles and doubles compared to Shelton's six. Now that the American is out of the doubles, the singles is his sole focus.

Shelton has had some good moments this week and has dug himself out of some tricky situations, but he will need to be a lot more consistent if he wants to get past de Minaur. The Aussie's style of play may force a lot of unforced errors from the number four seed, who will need his powerful serve and forehand to be on point.

This will be the first time the pair have faced off on tour.

Match Info: Alex de Minaur - Ben Shelton

Start time (local): Not scheduled yet

Start time (your time): Not scheduled yet

Tournament: National Bank Open Presented by Rogers

Round: Quarterfinal

Head-to-Head

Andrey Rublev vs. Taylor Fritz

Taylor Fritz comes into this game in fantastic form, winning two titles on grass before reaching the Wimbledon semi-final. He failed to progress past the quarters in Washington, but will be hoping to do better up north.

His first round game was a tightly fought one against Roberto Carballes Baena, but the world number four won it 7-5, 7-6. It was more comfortable in the next match against Canadian Gabriel Diallo, as Fritz came out on top 6-4, 6-2.

His fourth-round match against Jiri Lehecka went the complete distance in sets and games. In a match where there were no breaks of serve, Fritz managed to come out on top 7-6, 6-7, 7-6. This win sets up a tie against Andrey Rublev, who is in his first Masters 1000 quarter-final of the season.

He kicked off his Toronto campaign after beating Hugo Gaston 6-2, 6-3 to set up a tie against Italian Lorenzo Sonego. Rublev lost the first set 7-5, but regained composure and won the next two sets 6-4, 6-3 to come out on top.

He had a tough challenge waiting for him in the form of Alejandro Davidovich-Fokina, who recently came agonisingly close to winning in Washington. The first two sets went to tie-breaks, evenly shared out. The Russian then went into a 3-0 lead before the Spaniard was forced to retire, moving Rublev onto his toughest test of the tournament in the American number one.

Fritz and Rublev have faced off nine times, with Fritz currently leading the head-to-head 5-4. It has been well over a year since the pair faced off, with Rublev getting the better of Fritz in the semi-finals before going on to win the 1000 event.

He will be hoping for similar fortunes, but will go into the game the second favourite. Fritz has been serving very well this week and has consistently got the better of his opponents, no matter how tight or tough it is. The last few meetings on hard courts have also gone the way of Fritz, giving him the slight advantage heading into this quarter-final.

There is always the question whether Rublev will keep his head, but when he does and is fully focused, he is a very good player, as proved in the past through the titles he has won. The tennis he has played this week will give him confidence heading into an important period for the Russian as he tries to regain his form.

Match Info: Andrey Rublev - Taylor Fritz

Start time (local): Not scheduled yet

Start time (your time): Not scheduled yet

Tournament: National Bank Open Presented by Rogers

Round: Quarterfinal

Head-to-Head