Nick Kyrgios will get right back in action following his title run in Marseille when he takes the court against Martin Klizan on Tuesday in Dubai. First-round action is also wrapping up with Stan Wawrinka vs. Sergiy Stakhovsky.
(7) Martin Klizan vs. Nick Kyrgios
The two most recent champions on the eastern side of the Atlantic Ocean will be going head-to-head when Klizan and Kyrgios square off for the first time in their careers on Tuesday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Klizan went on an improbable run to the Rotterdam title two weeks ago, saving match points against Roberto Bautista Agut and Nicolas Mahut before coming back from a set down to upset Gael Monfils in the final. The Slovak is up to No. 24 in the world, which earned him the No. 7 seed in Dubai.
Kyrgios endured no such marathons en route to his first-ever winner’s trophy last week in Marseille, as the 20-year-old Australian completely dominated the field. He held all 47 of his service games and was pushed only to one tiebreaker by Marin Cilic in the championship match. Kyrgios preceded that result with beatdowns of Vasek Pospisil, Teymuraz Gabashvili, Richard Gasquet, and Tomas Berdych. The minimal time spent on court should help the world No. 33 maintain his energy and momentum in Dubai. Moreover, Klizan would prefer a slower surface on which to contest this matchup.
Pick: Kyrgios in 2
[polldaddy poll=9319397]
Sergiy Stakhovsky vs. (2) Stan Wawrinka
It will be a rematch of an entertaining contest from last week in Marseille when Wawrinka and Stakhovsky meet again on Tuesday. Wawrinka took a 2-1 lead in the head-to-head series when he saved two match points to survive 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(8) and reach the quarterfinals. The two veterans previously faced each other at that same Marseille event in 2015, when Stakhovsky pulled off a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 upset. Wawrinka’s first win over the Ukrainian came in the form of a 6-7(6), 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-2 decision at the 2012 U.S. Open.
The fourth-ranked Swiss could really use a confidence-building result in advance of more important tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami. Since capturing a fourth straight title in Chennai, he has suffered final-set losses to Milos Raonic in the fourth round of the Australian Open and to Benoit Paire in the Marseille quarters. Stakhovsky has not defeated anyone other than Wawrinka this season, as the world No. 92 is saddled with a disappointing 1-4 record. This will be an even tougher test for the underdog because he does his best work on either grass of fast indoor hard courts. The Dubai surface appears to be playing on the quick side, but it should still help Wawrinka finish the job in simpler fashion that what transpired last week.
Pick: Wawrinka in 2
[polldaddy poll=9319393]
who ya got?
Kyrios playing lights out lately…should win in straight…..Wka as well.
Agree. RBA was toast in Rotterdam – that was fortunate for Klizan. Kyrgios with his complete domination in Marseille was a revelation. Kyrgios in 2.
Stanimal needs this win in…want it to be 2 but I think 3.
I was thinking Stan wins in two because he will have more of a mental edge because he just beat stakhovsky. Still I think stakhovsky will test him and Stan will win in a less tight three set contest. Hopefully he gets the W in two though. I think stakhovsky has an ok chance if Stan is off because the courts play fast here but I still think Stan plays well enough to win. It could be straights but I’m picking Stanimal in 3. For Kyrgios and Klizan it’s a no brainier. Kyrgios is in amazing form and these courts playing quick helps him to have a clear edge. NK in two sets. No tiebreaks or breaks of serve for Klizan either.
I am picking Stan to win in 2 sets.
Kyrgios in two sets.
If Kyrgios plays as well as he did last tournament he will probably be playing Djokovic in the final. His fitness might be an issue since playing back to back tournaments with little turnover time. Well have to see how he plays against Klizan.
Easy 2 set win for Kyrgios
Stan on the other hand (haha that rhymes) is having trouble with form lately and Stakhovsky should pose a problem to him.
Tight 2 sets with Stan coming through in the third set
as long as Kyrgios doesn’t expend much energy against Kleeze, he should be fine.
Kleeze lol, I like it.
Will Kyrgios have Davis Cup on his mind in later rounds? (have not checked if he’s on the Ozzie team)
in a word, no.
Stan will be too emotional against Kyrgios to win. Kyrgios couldn’t care less about the emotions of it and will treat their semifinal as just another match.
Oh good point.
I’m going with Klizan in 3 and Stakhovsky in 3.
Someone has to play Devil’s advocate…I’m jk but I seriously do believe these picks will stand. This is a perfect let down spot for both guys in my opinion.
Kyrgios had a spectacular Marseille tournament. But I’m willing to bank that he’s already Forecasting his American tour for both Palm Springs and Miami for Indian Wells and the Miami Open. After celebrating his Marseille tournament, he had to take 7.5 hour flight to Dubai overnight just to play this first round. I’m willing to bet that with Klizan having a nice break after winning Rotterdamn, the In-Form Klizan can take out the Red Hot Aussie in the first round.
Stakhovsky’s season hasn’t been great but he made the QFs last season here in Dubai and given his level of disappointment this season, he has to be extra motivated. Playing a familiar foe with whom he’s playing tight matches against, Stakhovsky may score a big time win here.
Bold Picks. I know….I’m either a Genius or Shmuck. Either way I have this gut feeling that Kyrgios or Wawrinka will fall in the first round….
solid post
I could see Kyrgios losing. There is no possible way I can see Stan losing to Staks.
Haha I keep telling myself about that Wawrinka pick. Frankly he’s not one for losing first round matches but Wawrinka didn’t play in the Middle East last year and these Desert conditions are no joke…Having personally been to Dubai a short amount of wind picks up quite alot of dust and sand.
Furthermore the heat is exceptionally dry and for these 30 year old guys, it may come down to how much they want to bare through it. Based on 10 day weather forecasts, it looks like Today’s matches will be the hottest weather conditions for the week.
Like i said they’re both REACH picks. If we’re going strictly on form like how we analyze almost every tennis match then there shouldn’t be a reason to contest. But the human element is where I’m starting to neglect, thus I will find times I lose on the big names or heavy favorites. So I’m trying very hard to not neglect their Travel Times, Weather, potential Health scares, and potential Retired matches.
I gotcha
Sam makes a good case. Yeah I wouldn’t put many units on the Kleeze-Kyrgios match. I think Kyrgios will at least get to the QF’s – I doubt he gets to the final. We’ll soon see. I like your points about his ambitions being more in IW and Miami. But why would he go the wrong direction to Dubai? There’s a 500 in Acapulco – which isn’t a bad flight to Sonny Bono International airport.
Agreed. I think it comes down to a multitude of reasons but more so on seeding the tournaments, inviting specific players, etc. I think ideally all ATP players would like to stay within a respective region while traveling, but this is just one of those scheduling conflicts I think he didn’t really predicate on making himself. Furthermore, Nole and some of the others are obviously going to be in Palm Springs as well. I just think Kyrgios wants to get the states faster than they do so he can party in Cali before he heads to Miami hahaha
Kyrgios is going to be on DC team. I thought that had to be why he’d back track to Dubai from Marseille instead of making his way West. Made no sense unless he was headed to Australia after playing some matches in Dubai. Bernard will have to fly Acapulco to Kooyong.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-22/lleyton-hewitt-to-name-first-australian-davis-cup-team-captain/7190548
Ah gotcha! Good spot ratcliff!
Sergiy Stakhovsky is up a Set and a break in the second…Let’s see if this holds…
Just as I suspected…Wawrinka with the break back and the hold…now 4-3 in the 2nd set
Sam, great analysis and insights.
I too was tempted to go contrarian and predict Stakho and Klizan.
Both with great chances at upsets.
Do you bet on-line? Are you profitable at it overall over the long term?
Actually I live in Las Vegas so I bet here. We have these awesome Sports Applications for our mobile devices where we can bet from our Smartphones. In terms of Profitability, I’ve only been betting Tennis consistently for the past two years and I’ve been quite successful. It’s actually been so successful for me that I’ve made it my primary betting sport along with UFC and the NFL.
That is awesome. I would think that you are part of a small minority. Well done!
Do you bet during a match?
What apps do you use? Specific betting site mobile apps you mean?
Unfortunately I dont have In-Game Wagering on Tennis. Almost every major Sportsbook here in Las Vegas offers a Sportsbook Mobile APP. I use William Hill US because they’re an European based Sportsbook with an American Branch. So they’re always pretty consistent with their tennis offerings
Looks like Wawa has righted the ship.
Got a feeling it goes to Tiebreak in the 3rd
Nah, I think Wawa will win by a break, if not two.
Stakho’s chance was to win in two IMO.
Definitely. The longer it goes on the more likely Stan will prevail.
That said, Sam may be right.
Wawa is just 2 of 18 on return points in the 3rd ATM.
WaWa has just remembered he is a two-time slam winner and he had better pull his finger out 🙂
Wow. That was quite the sudden turn around from 30-Love down to break.
Did Stakho choke?
GSM Wawa.
Haha solid ending from Wawrinka. Staks had his opportunities. GG
Not really a choke by Stakho – more a case of WaWa suddenly raising his game in the nick of time.
Wawa hit a ridic BH pass when Stako would have had 0-40 at 4-5
Now for Mr.K……………….
Who shall also struggle IMO.
Klizan playing well and quick turnaround plus letdown potential for Coolio.
IDK about you guys but consider this for Kyrgios. We all know his personality type. Simply just follow his Twitter or Instagram. He just won his first ATP 250 Title in a country where he is of legal drinking age. The match ended for him around 6 PM Marseille Time. My feeling is he definitely enjoyed himself before taking that 7.5 Hour Emirates Air flight to Dubai. I just find it hard to believe that he didn’t celebrate the Win in style.
LOL, you place a bet on this one?
Absolutely I bet on Klizan. +250 (3.5) He’s made me a boat load in the past two weeks hahaha
yep
fun match coming up
#KlizanBreak
Phew. Stan gets by. Allez!!
It’s good to know that Stan hit the win.
Got the win!
Didn’t really take in account the fatigue factor for NK. Sam could be right. Klizan broke early and is off to a good start.
Koolio be all like if Wawa can comeback…
Up 2-0 in the 2nd.
Klizan be like, oh no you di’int.
Breaks back for 1-2.
Waiting…
waiting to make play the Acapulco game until this Kleeze – Koolio match plays out.
It’s my theory that DC is affecting the minds and behavior of some. Even so, I’d think Koolio would at least win a couple matches. Not sure about Bernard and Groth. Thinking too much again?
This is getting messy lol. Feels like I’m watching a WTA match with all these breaks
Feeling better about my Acapulco WTA picks than ATP today. But I’ve been bracket picking WTA for fun for 2 years and enjoy following. My WTA GS brackets last year, particularly early rounds, were generally better than ATP. Gosh, I wish I woulda been smart enough to put “units” on Vinci. Or, Kerber.
Looks like Kyrgios is on track to win this. Pretty much his to lose now
Bizarre
Klizan just wants to go home and forget this match.
He’s too mellow today, Kleeze. Some antics would be timely. It’s no too late. He’s catching up, maybe.
Just want Koolio to maintain his cool.
I only got up to and watched the final set was kyrgios fatigued or just not playing well. I know Klizan imploded in the third so that doesn’t give me info on the 1st and 2nd set.
Kyrgios tanked the 1st. Tried to tank the 2nd but Klizan wouldn’t let him. Once Kyrgios realized that Klizan was about to give him a set for free, he decided to win the whole match.
Agree. It was too easy not to win in the end.
I’m allergic to Mr.K so don’t often watch his matches. I guess I’m the wrong age, the wrong sex, and the wrong nationality but I struggle to find any redeeming features and to understand why the tennis world is fascinated by him and hail him as being so good for the game.
the tennis world does not
Andy Murray, John McEnroe and Jon Wertheim all think that he’s good for the game.
Are they not part of the tennis world?
Give him a chance, ed. 😉
He has calmed down. And he’s a team player. I suspect he’ll shine in the upcoming Davis Cup. I like to read his twitter (though in general resist twitter and don’t have an accout myself…yet) to get a sense of where he’s going. He’s sincerely proud and possibly relieved to be included by Lleyton Hewitt.
Why is the above comment under moderation? Is it not allowed to be critical of Kyrgios
it isn’t anymore. something is messed up with your username.
LOL Kyrgios being tr_lled on Twitter…
https://twitter.com/WeAreTennisFR/status/702198147208994816
CryBaby LOL…
https://twitter.com/WeAreTennisFR/status/702186676903399424
#MirkasRight
Stan the Man!
So it appears that Kyrgios did get the win in the end. Maybe there is some fatigue setting in now.
My theory, Nny, (loosely using the word theory), is that Kyrgios does have his mind on DC. But he’s not as single-minded as say, Andy Murray at Wimbles and USO last summer. I’d pick him another match because it’s Kukushkin. But likely Berdych will be after that – again, like today v Klizan, if Berdych practically hands him the match, he’ll take it but don’t see Kyrgios fighting for it.
great to see Nick wining again! I was worried he would be too distracted by wining his first trophy but he managed to beat annoying Klizan and I am so happy for him!
Nick should not be tired IMO…his matches are not taxing on his body, thanks to his superb serve…I would love to see him playing Wawa and beating him! 🙂
Ricky,
if Nick by any chance reaches the final and manages to test Novak (I do not think he can beat Novak, not just yet :-)) do you think he deserves his own page here? Nick is young and he definitely reads the forums about him! I would love him to see that he has fans around the world who do believe in him!
“too distracted” would be an understatement
but he somehow recovered to win
i’ll make pages for everyone soon
great! thanks!
Nats: I have the greatest respect for your knowledge of the game and always enjoy our exchanges. But I’m amazed at your proposal NK should be given his own thread – on what basis? Winning his first ATP 250 title and causing some some high profile upsets?
btw: I’m assuming Ricky had his tongue in his cheek at 10.13pm
Ah! That; makes sense.
I thought he was kyrgios.
I mean serious.
Definitely need pages for Dreddy and la Monf. Maybe a young guns page?
Vote for young gun page. Ricky’s democracy of Tenngrand 🙂 Fair election process.
I just watched some highlights. Klizan played last shot right handed. ????
I vined it.
https://vine.co/v/irV0lFm3wA0
WaWa eked out the win. Just. Not sure it will have down a lot for his confidence and ego though.
At least Klizan took a set off Kyrgios (which is more than anyone else managed last week) before caving in mentally.
Have just re-watched the replay of the lst set and concur with Ricky’s view Kyrgios tanked it.
Gamesmanship?
^^ Bloody auto correct on overdrive at 8.56
ed, I know you don’t like Nick, but you will have to get used to him…he is here to stay… 🙂
Let’s go NIck!!!!
I know!
I’ll try to ‘put up or shut up’ otherwise it gets tedious for the rest of you 🙂
🙂 no ed, it’s fine really…I understand your skepticism about Kyrgios…he has done a lot to “deserve” such attitude and distrust of fans…but I believe in him changing…I may as well be wrong…but what’s true is that his talent is remarkable…when I come to think what he would be able to achieve if disciplined and serious in business…and he does not even have a coach ATM…
Annabel Croft was commentating his match and I had the distinct impression she is not bowled over by him. She is too good a commentator to voice her real thoughts but the space between her words speak volumes.
There is no argument he has formidable talent. Only time will tell if it can be channelled to produce the commensurae results or if he will self combust ala Safin.