Gael Monfils takes on the newly returned Kevin Anderson and Diego Schwartzman battles Borna Coric as round-robin play wraps up at the ATP Cup.
Gael Monfils vs. Kevin Anderson
After a 2019 full of injury woes, South Africa’s Kevin Anderson is looking to make his way back to fighting form. The veteran hasn’t played a tournament since Wimbledon last year, and as a result, his ranking has plummeted to No. 147 in the world. The good news for the South African is that he took Novak Djokovic to two tiebreakers in his first match back and he won his second match against the Chilean Cristian Garin.
France’s Gael Monfils, has enjoyed a career of success against Anderson. The two men have played 6 times since 2011; Monfils posted a 5-1 record, losing only their most recent encounter in 2018 at Wimbledon. As his country’s top seed, Monfils has also played Garin and Djokovic with the same results as Anderson, except that Djokovic pummeled Monfils 6-3, 6-2.
The Frenchman, whose speedy game matches up favorably against Anderson’s, should be able to pocket a sixth win, but look for Anderson to make Monfils work for it.
Cheryl pick: Monfils in 3
Ricky pick: Anderson in 3
[crowdsignal poll=10486341]
Diego Schwartzman vs. Borna Coric
Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman was one of the big stories of the 2019 U.S. Open. Showing impressive grit, he upset Alexander Zverev in the round of 16, then put up a fight against eventual champion Rafael Nadal in the quarters, before going down in 3. He hasn’t fared well in Sydney so far, however. A pair of matches in round robin play resulted in a pair of losses at the hands of Dominic Thiem and Hubert Hurkacz.
Borna Coric did slightly better against the competition. He edged Thiem in 3, but got soundly outplayed by Poland’s top player, Hurkacz. Coric holds a scant 2-1 record over the Argentine, but Schwartzman won their most recent encounter at the 2018 French Open.
While neither player has been in peak form so far in Australia, Coric looked particularly lackluster in his match against Hurkacz. Expect a close one with Schwartzman just edging the Croat.
Cheryl pick: Schwartzman in 3
Ricky pick: Schwartzman in 3
[crowdsignal poll=10486338]
The great matches continue at The ATP Cup…I like Ason in straight, and Sman in 3
Anderson yep
Anderson is playing Paire instead of Monfils. Kevin won the first set in a one-sided TB. Paire was very unhappy with life in general and the crowd and ump in paricular. They’re currently on serve in the 2nd set.