Barcelona
Andrey Golubev vs. (4) Kei Nishikori: Nishikori in 2
(11) Fernando Verdasco vs. (6) Nicolas Almagro: Verdasco in 3
(1) Rafael Nadal vs. Ivan Dodig: Nadal in 2
(5) Tommy Robredo vs. (12) Marin Cilic: Robredo in 3
(WC) Inigo Cervantes vs. Teymuraz Gabashvili: Gabashvili in 2
Albert Montanes vs. (9) Ernests Gulbis: Montanes in 3
(10) Philipp Kohlschreiber vs. Jurgen Melzer: Kohlschreiber in 3
Santiago Giraldo vs. (Q) Dominic Thiem: Giraldo in 3
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Bucharest
(Q) Adrian Ungur vs. Denis Istomin: Istomin in 3
Robin Haase vs. (2) Mikhail Youzhny: Youzhny in 3
(3) Gael Monfils vs. Ricardas Berankis: Monfils in 2
(WC) Marius Copil vs. (Q) Paul-Henri Mathieu: Mathieu in 3
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Ricky,
You are picking Montanes over Gulbis? Because it’s clay? Or has Gulbis reverted back to old form and decided that he isn’t going to play well anymore?
Also, Giraldo over Thiem, because it’s clay I assume. So it ends for the young Austrian in round three.
I agree with all the others. Nishi looked better than I thought he would against RBA in his first match coming back from injury. I don’t think Almagro is playing well now. He just withdrew in MC and gave Stan a walkover. Verdasco should get the win. I think Gaba backs up his victory over Ferrer.
yes, because of clay. I was more confident in Giraldo over Thiem than Montanes over Gulbis.
Unless Gulbis is ON FIRE (like for a moment earlier this season), I generally don’t pick him to win unless he has just an amazing matchup. Because unless Gulbis is ON FIRE, he rarely wins. And Montanes on clay is NOT an amazing matchup for him.
Hohoho! Gulbinator schools Montanes in straights………..
By the way, they both have beaten Fed on clay.
MONTANES beat Fed on clay?
Estoril, Portugal 2010, Montanes beat Fed 6/2 7/6(5)
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=F324&oId=M824
wow
Verdi is so frustrating to watch. When he’s good, he can be very good BUT when he’s bad he is horrid. Apparently he was diagnosed with ADHD as a child which might explain why he is so erratic.
“When he’s good, he can be very good BUT when he’s bad he is horrid.”
how many players can this be said about?
Gulbis, Dolgopolov, etc. etc. etc.
You’re not comparing him to Gulbis
or are you?
I guess I’m nostalgic for the Verdasco circa ’08//10 when he WAS more consistent and played several memorable matches. e.g. ’08 DC final in Argentine, Wimbledon 4R ’08, AO SF ’09.
Sometimes (but not often) there are glimpses of the Top 10 player he once was.
ed251137@April 25, 2014 at 7:13 am
Verdasco hopes to improve his performance. In February, he hired a new coach – Thomas Enqvist, a former Swedish player. TE was supposed to debut in Monte Carlo, but Verdasco skipped it due to an ankle injury.
http://www.marca.com/2014/02/18/tenis/1392742772.html
(to be continued in Reply, because WP doesn’t like 2 links in a comment)
wow
ed251137@April 25, 2014 at 7:13 am
Thomas Enqvist was in Verdasco’s box yesterday
https://twitter.com/breakpointsaved/status/459312622794313730/photo/1
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Ernie vs Gaba……Gaba will win with Ernie putting on a racquet smash show!
this
That’s one thing that’s fun about Gulbis. Every single match he wins is like a relief.
@snowdevil,
Too funny! You never know with him.
I think Gaba is going to win in three sets and we will see more stellar racket smashes from Gulbis. 😉
@Augusta
Thanks for that info. Now I come to think of it, one of the commies mentioned Enqvuist but I wasn’t paying close attention to what he said. There seems to be a trend for older players to hit their best form in the autumn of their careers. Maybe Nando will join their ranks with the help of TE.
ed,
Nick Lester is in Bucharest! He is commenting right now.
^^^ ?
Won’t be able to watch Rafa’s match at home, I might catch some of it on my ipad, signal permitting.
Vamos Rafa!