Roger Federer will resume his Basel campaign during quarterfinal action on Friday, when he faces David Goffin. Richard Gasquet and Ivo Karlovic are also aiming for a spot in the last four.
(1) Roger Federer vs. (8) David Goffin
After dominating his first match of this week’s Swiss Indoors Basel 6-1, 6-2 at the expense of Mikhail Kukushkin, Federer endured a minor score against Philipp Kohlschreiber on Thursday. But the six-time champion improved to 58-9 lifetime at this event by holding off the German 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in one hour and 38 minutes. Federer, who is 55-9 for the year, is two wins away from a 10th consecutive appearance in the Basel title match.
Up next for the No. 1 seed on Friday is a third career meeting with Goffin and a rematch of last season’s Basel final. Federer triumphed with a 6-2, 6-2 victory as he improved to 2-0 in his career against the Belgian (previously prevailed 5-7, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 at the 2012 French Open). Goffin punched his ticket to the quarterfinals by taking out Andreas Seppi in three sets and Adrian Mannarino in straights. The world No. 17 is 36-22 this year, but this is first quarterfinal since finishing runner-up on the clay courts of Gstaad in early August. Goffin’s second go-around in Basel against Federer should be more competitive, but the crowd favorite is unlikely to have any serious trouble.
Pick: Federer in 2 losing 8-10 games
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(5) Richard Gasquet vs. Ivo Karlovic
Gasquet and Karlovic will be squaring off for the sixth time in their careers and for the second time this season on Friday. The Frenchman improved to 4-1 in the head-to-head series by cruising 6-3, 6-4 a few months ago on the clay courts of Madrid. He has won three in a row since Karlovic pocketed his lone victory via a 6-4, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6(4) scoreline at the 2011 U.S. Open. Gasquet is 2-0 against the current world No. 23 on hard courts, including 1-0 indoors.
Karlovic is essentially on his second life in Basel. The 36-year-old Croat trailed Stan Wawrinka by a set and a break in round one before storming back for a 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 upset. He is 38-23 for his 2015 campaign after earning a more routine 7-6(4), 7-5 win over Dusan Lajovic on Thursday. Gasquet is through to the last eight after getting the best of Jiri Vesely and Dominic Thiem. The fifth-seeded Frenchman raised his level considerably to win a high-quality showdown with Thiem 7-6(1), 6-4. Gasquet’s current form and past success against Karlovic point to another one going in the world No. 11’s favor.
Pick: Gasquet in 3
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Going to go with gasquet in three breakers and fed losing five to seven games
I already made my prediction for Gasquet/Karlovic on daily picks. I went with Gasquet in 3 sets.
As for Fed, I will go with him winning losing 8-10 games. I think Ricky’s right about that.
Reblogged this on Tennis Abides.
Took a heavy hit from isner last night. Made a hail Mary $200 parlay with pospisil, mug kitova over 22, gasquet, bautista, sock, nadal, fed, and Johnson. This parlay looks realistic. Most worried about gasquet, Johnson, and nadal.
Gasquet is going to “win”
who is mug kitova
Holy shit! You cleaned out man, how much did you bank?
Karlo is having an MTO on his serving arm. Hehe
soon to retire
Vamos Gasquet, allez.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CSkaSQjWcAABg6g.png
Gasquet takes 1st set 64.
If Dr Ivo gets broken, he’ll retire.
Omg Dr ivo upped his level a lot second set tb
Gasquet needs to be pro-active if he wants to win this match.
Gasquet saves VMP
Cant remember how long it is since Gasquet has played consistently well for such a long stretch.He badly wants to get to London, Mind you, Dr,Ivo is helping with all those UEs
Gasquet will be in London….as an alternate.
Thanks for that info. He’s definitely the best candidate for that spot particularly as there may well be a vacancy to be filled, What are your thoughts on that one?
On what?
The possibility of a vacancy if a player, aready confirmed, withdraws 😉
Omg I’m very scared Dr ivo is so good with injury
DJ: You got a lotta money riding on this one ?
Yes
You can celebrate now – dont spend it all at once 😉
I guessed you needed Gasquet to win but I’m not familiar with the parlance of betting so had to google it. It’s bad enough wanting your favourites to win without having money riding on the results.
Dr Ivo gone in 3 sets. Gasquet wins 64 67 76.
My parlay is not done yet. I got $200 on mug/kitova over 22, gasquet, pospisil, sock, bautista, nadal, Johnson and federer. I’m going for the big win cause I lost a ton on isner.
Karlovic is 0:9 in final set TBs this year. Serbots cannot serve their errors out in TBs, all their errors count.
I think it’s because on third set the serve bots arm is worn out and that little bit of fatigue affects servicing aces a lot that’s why third set tie breakers serve bots have less success
or Karlovic is just a mental midget
his loss today has nothing to do with a tired arm
I need bautista, nadal, and federer to complete a +1200 parlay. Lot of people saying bautista might be tired because he played too much tennis lately but why people say this when zverev played even more days than bautista.
How is Rafa doing? I was trying to follow the score on my iPhone, but raced home like a crazy woman. I thought for sure I would miss it.
Come on Rafa!
Oh YAY! Gasquet won! Got that one right and the human ace machine is out.
You’re on the wrong thread for Rafa’s match 🙂
Okay thanks! 🙂
Fed in 2.
Rick, you should put up a section called live commentary thread where people can post comments on live matches or else your blog pages will be clogged up
why wouldnt that thread get clogged up?….
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Fed now broken for the 2nd time, so it’s not a cardinal sin, is it, unless you are called Rafa Nadal.
BALL ABUSE
Well I just hope that you not comparing two breaks with four breaks.
Don’t you? Or do you.
#Repent
Like last night the Baselites are in full throttle trying to lift Federer.
Goffin takes the 2nd set. 63
Fed playing poorly, miss hitting many FH DTL. Hope he improves before final
He will
Federer’s 1st serve dropped to 36% in that set. Goffin’s was not much better at 43%
#Any time, any place
If federer plays like this nadal has a good chance
Nadal has a good chance whichever way Federer plays.
This set may end 6 1
Goffin obviously thinks it’s a privilege to go down 3:0 to the ‘GOAT’ judging by his reaction to the close call on Roger’s backhand crosscourt that Goffin left.
I herd federer is goffin idol.
Yep
Fed should be full flow not the way he is playing now, if he plays like this even Fognini could defeat him. He should be playing like in cincinnati if he meets nadal as they may meet after a long time.
Now he is up a break the commies have reverted, with relief in their voices, to using superlatives to describe his play. Make that two breaks.
I know, now they are going on about the class of Federer coming through. I’m sure Fed is not happy that Rafa is still in the draw.
Rafa will beat Fed anytime anyplace when Fed plays like this.
Federer made more UEs than Rafa.
You don’t get it.
Exception rather than the norm.
#AndThereinLiesTheDifference
Almost a repeat of last night’s match. Found his top gear in the nick of time.
DJ will heave a sigh of relief 🙂
I watched some of Fed’s match, but felt that he would win in the end. He didn’t look good in that second set. If Goffin can take a set off him, then he’s not invincible.
Things have really worked out well for Rafa. He should beat Gasquet without much trouble and that may set up a Fedal final! 🙂
Roger might lose deliberately so he does not meet Rafa!….lol!!!! But lets hope Rafa gets past Gasquet
I would like to see the replay of Sock and Young. Hopefully the tennis channel will show that one again.
So it’s going to be Sock and Fed, Gasquet and Rafa.
This should be good! 🙂