Gilles Simon and Jack Sock will contest what should be an entertaining quarterfinal on Friday in Stockholm. Gilles Muller and Marcos Baghdatis are set for a rematch of their Atlanta semifinal thriller this summer.
(7) Jack Sock vs. (3) Gilles Simon
Simon and Sock will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers and for the second time this season when they clash in the quarterfinals of the If Stockholm Open on Friday. Their only previous encounter came on the clay courts of Rome, where Simon prevailed 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-3. The 15th-ranked Frenchman has been his usual consistent self in 2015, a year that has seen him capture a title in Metz and reach the Wimbledon quarters. Simon has won at least two matches at three consecutive tournaments this fall and he will hope to extend the streak after beating Leonardo Mayer 6-2, 6-4 on Wednesday.
Sock could move into the top 30–and remain on course to be seeded at the 2016 Australian Open–even if he loses this one. The American has improved to an outstanding 30-15 for the season with Stockholm victories over Pablo Carreno Busta and Fernando Verdasco–both in three sets. Sock’s mental toughness will have to be on display once again in order to pull off an upset of Simon. And a quick indoor hard court may help him do just that by allowing him to dictate play with offensive weaponry.
Pick: Sock in 3
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Marcos Baghdatis vs. (8) Gilles Muller
Muller and Baghdatis will also be facing each other for the second time in their careers and for the second time this season on Friday. Fans will hope it is just as good as their Atlanta semifinal showdown from three months ago, when a high-quality affair just barely went Baghdatis’ way via a 6-7(4), 6-3, 7-6(4) decision.
An indoor hard court may benefit Muller in his effort to avenge the recent loss to his good friend and fellow veteran. The eighth-seeded Luxembourgian’s serve is once again cooking on this surface. He finished with 16 aces and one double-fault against Mischa Zverev before adding 14 aces at John Millman’s expense. Also in fine form, Baghdatis booked his spot in the last eight by taking out Sam Querrey and Bernard Tomic in straight sets. The 46th-ranked Cypriot is 25-18 on the year and 5-3 during this fall swing. If Muller can serve well, get into net and avoid extended rallies, the match will be in his hands.
Pick: Muller in 3
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Sock for the win and Baghdatis for the upset.
Berdych vs Zverev has commenced Dimitrov vs Almagro battle of 1 handed backhands is the next match.
Simon vs Sock match has started its now 2-2 and 30-0 on the Sock serve
Sock 4-3 but I am watching Gulbis vs Karlovic
now Sock vs Simon lets see what Simon can do as he is serving to stay in the match
set
sorry he is serving to stay in the set
5-5 Simon held easily
set Sock with some huge hitting and bad backhands by Simon
Sock won the set 7-5 however I am watching the other match Gulbis vs Karlovic so I have basically no idea whats happening here
Wish I could watch. Just checked with TennisTV – they are having IT problems. Nobody can log in.
break to Simon
Sock breaks back
watching now Simon to serve for the set at 5-4
sock wins the first point a forehand winner
double fault by Simon and its 0-30
missed volley by Simon Sock has 2 bps
Simon messes up again serving for the match.
sorry – I meant like he did in the first set
Simon saves 1 bp but on the 2nd he misses long Sock breaks back for 5-5
Sock has a huge forehand before today I had never noticed he had such a big forehand.
Sock misses 2 game points deuce at 5 all, Sock has game point again but Simon forces him into an error deuce again, a missed forehand and Simon has a Bp, Sock saves the bp with a serve forehand combo Simon has another bp when Sock misses a backhand long. Sock again saves the BP, an ace and Sock has game point and Sock gets to 6-5 Simon to serve to stay in the match.
Simon is not happy
Jack socking it to him each time Gilou got his nose in front. Sock serving for the match.
Simon holds to 30 and we are going to a tiebreak.
was looking at the wrong livescore box. He survived to play a TB
Sock starts the tiebreak with nd ace but Simon levels it up Sock has the mini break after a lob winner.
a bad backhand hands the mini break right back to Simon
Sock 3-2
Sock sets up the point beautifully with a huge forehand but misses the volley at the net 3 all
Simon misses a forehand on the run and Sock has a mini break 4-3
64. Is it Gilou’s 2nd serve which Sock is now hammering the cause of his problems?
forehand winner by Sock as Simon rushes the net and its 5-3
Simon nets a forehand and Sock arrives at 3 match points the first 2 on Simon’s serve.
Simon saves match point # 1
yes Simon has served badly in tiebreak
Sock had match point on 2nd serve but missed now 3rd match point this time on his own serve.
Sock wins but Simon challenges the in call but he is proven wrong and sock wins
Ed sheds a little tear.
64aces. Do u really think bagdahtis can cause the upset??
just a hunch
Ur hunches have been on point lately
Gasquet just beat Chardy Hopefully Gasquet will qualify ahead of Anderson as first alternative so in case even if Murray pulls out of WTF we wont have to put up with Anderson.
Anderson has much better chance to make an impact in London than gasquet does.
this is correct
Between Gasquet and Anderson as far as making an impact I think its 50/50. They both have the weapons but often fail to execute. I like the top 8 just the way it is right now especially as there is not a chance of a servbot getting into the O2.
Baghdatis vs.Muller one set all.
great matchup
Baghdatis won 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3.
Well done Baggy!
I came home and turned on the tennis channel to see his victory over Muller. Also, the good news about Sock beating Simon.
Now I have seen the Sock/Simon match replayed on the tennis channel. It was a good one. That was a close two sets. But Sock was just that much better. Some really good rallies in this one, with both guys bringing it. I love Simon and will almost always cheer for him, but this time I really wanted to see Sock get this win.