London Hopefuls Del Potro & Isner Clash Friday In Paris

It has been an incredible journey for Juan Martin del Potro, who finds himself one match win away from qualifying for the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals in London. The 29-year-old Argentine was No. 47 in the Emirates ATP Race to London on Aug. 28. He has compiled an impressive 20-4 record since the start of the US Open and he has gradually improved after each tournament. Del Potro is playing in his fifth consecutive tournament in as many weeks. He brings a 6-2 head-to-head record against Friday’s quarter-final opponent, No. 9 seed and last year’s finalist John Isner. With a win, Del Potro will overtake Pablo Carreno Busta for the final spot in the Emirates ATP Race to London. If Isner beats Del Potro and goes on to win the title, the American would qualify for London. 

View FedEx ATP Head2Head matchups for Day 5 and vote for who you think will win!
 Del Potro vs. Isner | Sock vs. Verdasco | Cilic vs. Benneteau

In the next match on, World No. 1 Rafael Nadal takes on Serbian qualifier Filip Krajinovic for the first time. Nadal clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking for the fourth time with his opening round win over #NextGenATP player Hyeon Chung on Wednesday. The 31-year-old Spaniard is the oldest year-end No. 1 since the Emirates ATP Rankings began in 1973. Nadal is 85-4 lifetime against qualifiers and 34-0 in ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments. Krajinovic is appearing in his second career ATP World Tour quarter-final, the first since 2010 when he reached the semi-finals on home soil in Belgrade. The 25-year-old Serb has compiled his best results this season on the ATP Challenger Tour with a 47-15 record (40-10 on clay) and 5-0 in finals.

In the evening session, French wild card Julien Benneteau looks for his first win (0-3) against No. 3 seed Marin Cilic, who is trying to reach the semi-finals in Paris for the second straight year. The 35-year-old Benneteau is appearing in his fifth career Masters 1000 quarter-final, the first since 2014 Shanghai. His best Masters 1000 result was the semi-finals in 2014 Cincinnati. Cilic is 8-4 in quarter-final matches this season and his best Masters 1000 result was the semi-finals in Shanghai last month (l. to Nadal).

In the final match on, unseeded Fernando Verdasco meets No. 16 seed Jack Sock, who won the only previous meeting in the second round at 2015 Stockholm. Verdasco is appearing in his first Paris quarter-final in his 14th straight tournament showing. The 33-year-old Madrid native is playing in his first Masters 1000 quarter-final since 2012 Madrid. Sock is making his second straight quarter-final appearance in Paris. Sock is trying to reach his second Masters 1000 semi-final this season and in his career (Indian Wells).