An intriguing opener in St. Petersburg pits Marcos Baghdatis against Ernests Gulbis on Tuesday. Benoit Paire and Jerzy Janowicz are also hoping to get off to a winning start.
Marcos Baghdatis vs. Ernests Gulbis
Baghdatis and Gulbis will be squaring off for the seventh time in their careers and for the first time in more than two years when they clash in round one of the St. Petersburg Open on Tuesday. The head-to-head series stands at 4-2 in favor of Baghatis, who has won all three of their previous hard-court meetings (none indoors). He has not defeated Gulbis, however, since 2009. Gulbis has won two in a row at Baghdatis’ expense, via a 6-2, 6-2 decision on the clay courts of Rome in 2010 and 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 on the grass of Halle in 2013.
Both players fell off the tennis map–at least in terms of results–in 2014. Baghdatis has since climbed to No. 52 in the world thanks to 20 ATP match wins this season. The Cypriot finished runner-up in Atlanta two months ago but a hip injury derailed the rest of his hard-court summer. Gulbis showed signs of life by reaching the Montreal quarterfinals as a qualifier and holding two match points against Novak Djokovic, but he collapsed in that match then retired in the U.S. Open first round due to a wrist injury. The 68th-ranked Latvian is a question mark in every way right now, so this is a good opportunity for Baghdatis–assuming he is 100 percent.
Pick: Baghdatis in 2
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(6) Benoit Paire vs. Jerzy Janowicz
Paire is looking to maintain momentum from the best tournament of his career, a run to the U.S. Open fourth round that included a five-set upset of Kei Nishikori. The resurgent Frenchman, who started the season outside the top 130, is back up to No. 32 in the world and in position for a seed at the 2016 Australian Open. He is 19-13 at the ATP level this year to go along with three Challenger finals (two titles, one runner-up).
Up first for Paire in St. Petersburg is a second career ATP-level meeting with Janowicz. Their only previous encounter came earlier this season on the indoor hard courts of Montpellier, where Janowicz prevailed 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. They also faced each other at an indoor Challenger event back in 2011, when Paire got the job done 7-6(6), 2-6, 6-3. Janowicz is a mediocre 22-21 for his 2015 campaign and struggling down at 66th in the rankings. The Pole lost in the U.S. Open first round to Pablo Carreno Busta and he went 1-1 in Davis Cup action against Slovakia this past weekend (lost to Martin Klizan, beat Norbert Gombos). Paire is playing with far more confidence and should take care of business, although he may go on a mental walkabout for set.
Pick: Paire in 3
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Janowicz in 3, Gulbis in 2
Gulbis and Paire
Wonder if they’ll take it in turns to have a mental walkabout, or if they’ll both do it at the same time.
Paire in 3 sets with at least one TB
Sadly neither Bagdhatis or Gulbis have managed to build on their early promise and natural talent yet are capable of providing entertaining, very watchable matches.
Current form suggests Baggy should get the win
Bagdhatis in 3 sets
Baggy and Paire.
Baggy baggs the first set against Gulbis.
Gulbis takes the 2nd set. I was right in predicting 3 sets. Relying now on Baggy to get the win.
Baggy wins in 3 sets, As I predicted. Gulbis played most of the time like he had a death wish – spraying double faults and unforced errors in all directions.