Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gilles Simon will look continue what has been strong French Open campaign for the host nation. They are set for respective fourth-round meetings on Sunday with Tomas Berdych and Stan Wawrinka.
(14) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. (4) Tomas Berdych
Tsonga and Berdych will be facing each other for the ninth time in their careers at the ATP level when they battle for a quarterfinal spot at the French Open on Sunday. Berdych leads the head-to-head series 6-2, but they have clashed only once on clay. That showdown came just recently at the Madrid Masters, where the Czech cruised 7-5, 6-2. He has won five of their last six encounters dating back to the start of 2012.
Berdych is also enjoying a considerable edge in current form. The world No. 4 is still aiming to capture his first title of the year, but he is 35-9 and has reached at least the quarterfinals in all nine of his events–including seven trips to the semifinals or better. So far in Paris he has taken out Yoshihito Nishioka, Radek Stepanek, and Benoit Paire, dropping sets to Stepanek and Paire in the process. Tsonga has advanced with straight-set victories over Christian Lindell, Dudi Sela, and Pablo Andujar. The 15th-ranked Frenchman appears to be heating up after winning just six of 11 matches in 2015 prior to Roland Garros, mainly because of injury. Tsonga is obviously back in form to the extent that he can beat up on lesser competition, but Berdych is whole different beast.
Pick: Berdych in 4
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(8) Stan Wawrinka vs. (12) Gilles Simon
Wawrinka and Simon will be going head-to-head for the fifth time in their careers at the ATP level on Sunday. The two veterans have split their three previous meetings, only one of which has come on red dirt. During third-round action at the 2012 French Open, Wawrinka survived 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-2. They have faced each other only once since then, with Simon getting the job done 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 last fall in Shanghai.
Not too much unlike Tsonga (although this Frenchman has been more consistent), Simon is suddenly looking good in the wake of injury issues. The world No. 13 withdrew from Nice earlier this month but so far in Paris has gotten the best of Lucas Pouille (four sets), Martin Klizan (three), and Nicolas Mahut (five). Wawrinka always seems to peak in majors and so far this fortnight he has looked good in defeating Marsel Ilhan, Dusan Lajovic, and Steve Johnson. Still, the ninth-ranked Swiss has been remarkably inconsistent this season and whether or not he can maintain a high level throughout what is sure to be a drawn-out, baseline battle is a serious question mark.
Pick: Simon in 5
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I like Berdych in straight and The Stanimal in 4….yes, Simon playing well at RG, but Wka has too many weapons!
Reblogged this on Tennis Abides.
Stan for the Win and Berdych is the clear favorite against Tsonga.
I turned on the tv to see Tsonga up a set and a break on Berdy.
Tsonga 2 sets up now, Berdych is done.
Berdych wears strips of tape on his back:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGWEHIHU8AAgrQP.png
Amazing
Are you sure about that? Up a break in the forth…..Tsonga has gone AWOL for no reason, but at least the French are now QUIET!!!
It’s raining
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGWM_T1UIAADwlx.png
Pluie? Sacre bleu!
not really a wise decision to pick Simon to win over Stanimal. Stanmial in cruise control.
Simon has no weapons to hurt Stan unless of course Stan beats himself.
oh go away, la monf………….
Stanimal 2 sets to love and 4-2
Stanimal to serve for the match.
Stanimal wins.
I see Fed is sucking up to Bernardes by making him call his match.
Federer doesnt take 2 minutes between points so he doesnt have any problem with Bernardes
The crowd hates Fed they are cheering against him.
no
Monfils got Jean Gachassin to stop the match. Had that been Rafa in Spain, the internet would have gone viral.
So? You were talking a lot about the schedule and how it gave the players in the bottom section an advantage. As it turns out its Either Federer or Monfils who will have to play 3 days in a row. So much for all your conspiracy theories.
Yes so ? It is in no ones hand when it will rain. What if it rains tomm? The afct is side playing first on Sunday always has an advantage.
Stan had to play consecutive days before QF at Wimby before facing Fed ..maybe time for Fed to do the same before he faces Stan.
Are you asking me? I have not expressed a single opinion on the schedule. You’ve got the wrong poster.
The crowd really got behind Monfils late in the second set as he was trying to break Fed to take the set. You can see that he just drinks in the crowd and then goes out and blasts insane winners. He hit an unbelievable DTL forehand to set up break point and then another incredible DTL backhand to get the break and the second set!
So now they will have to resume play tomorrow. Monfils didn’t seem tired to be at all. Fed is going to have to work for this one.
There is a point to be made that some things are out of the control of the tournament organizers. Like the weather. There were rain delays and then the Berdy/Tsonga match went longer and so Fed/Monfils could not finish today. I don’t think it’s an advantage to have to come back tomorrow and play at least another two sets of tennis.
It’s always an advantage to play first. It means more rest before the later rounds. No matter what Fed will complete his 4th round match before Nadal, Nole and Murray. Will be worse for the other three as well if there are further delays.
Okay, so it’s a good thing for Fed to play two days in a row!
Just checking!
yup…I think it will be fair if he does that given how lucky he has been with regards to scheduling. Wawa had him on the ropes in Wimbledon 2014 and wawa then got tired because of the scheduling mishap. It’s time fed gets ‘unlucky’
@vamosrafa,
I still remember that Wimbledon match. Nobody here took me seriously when I said that Wawa will take it to Fed and can even beat him. As it turned out he was gassed out in the 2nd set after playing on what was his 3rd consecutive matchday. Was pretty unlucky!
Wawa has been pretty consistent over the past 6 slams : SF(lost to Nole in 5 sets) W 1R(only aberration) QF(lost to Fed) QF(lost to Kei in 5) SF(lost to Nole in 5).
This guy is amazing to watch!
Probably has the best winners striking ability on the tour!
+1
This seems truly self-evident to me. Especially the point about playing the last couple of rounds first. It seems hard for many people, over the years, not in this thread specifically, to _see_ this. Perhaps it is the blinding effect of the Sun King worship. (Given that the Sun King gets to play on the first day of a slam nearly at each slam. I know, tennis scheduling is deliberately unfair, but let’s at least admit the facts.)
It would be great if Monfils wins this one, ive already called Monfils in 4/5…….he can really pull this off if he just remains focused and play the important points well……he is just that talented!! Alez, Monfils!!!!
I had my doubts about Fed facing Monfils. Still in balance!
If Fed loses today, I think Wawa will be the main contender to reach the Final from bottom half!
It is a new day today. Fed will wrap this in 2 today. Monfils like yesterday will start slow and Fed will win the 3rd easily. 4th will go close but Fed will have greater confidence having 2 in the bag and will close it out.
Monfils had a chance had it been played fully yesterday.
I feel match split into 2 days is advantageous for Fed but may harm him in his QF. But hey its Wawa..he will anyway fold and hand it to Fed.
We know how destructive stan can be! His backhand is the best single-handed backhand ever and the overall firepower in his game is incredible. Depends on how much steam he picks up in the next match… so far, my pick is Nishikori.
Sanju, I don’t think fed vs Monfils will be this simple. Monfils did not look tired yesterday but may be could have gotten tired had the match gone the distance? Now he can play a long five-setter as well. He is a tough match-up for roger. This will be a tight contest.
Well, hindsight is 20/20, no? 🙂
So abhi whats ur take on Nole Rafa (if Rafa gets past Sock)
Been busy with my exams. Haven’t seen much of Nole or Rafa. Only seen Fed’s matches.
From what little I have seen, I think Nole will have the edge in QF. Rafa’s serve still seems a chink in his game. With Nole’s returns being as good as ever, Rafa will have to serve pretty darn well. Also, Rafa’s FH is far from its best. He has got just 1 more matc to figure it out.
More than that, I think it will be a mental battle. a victory in this match could potentially mean a Title here will play on Nole’s mind. He has not performed pretty well in those situations in the past 2-3 years at the slams. If Novak can play with calm, I think he will get the job done.
As for Rafa, I haven’t actually seen him play his best on clay after that FO 2013 SF 5th set. I thought Novak really pushed him to his best that time. Let’s see if he can do the same this time. I’m just hoping that it doesn’t turn out to be like last years final here in which both the guys played nervy tennis right till the end.
Could go to four but I am going with Rafa in 3 . I think he will move up a gear today.
Sock has no chance to even win 1 set.
CryBaby has no chance to even win 1 set.
#MirkasRight
Sock is an 8:1 underdog.
Hillarious!
Rusedski thinks Sock has a great chance because PopSocks beat the Bryan Bros at Wimbledon last Year!!!!! Such logic.
Rusedski has always been an idiot.