Stan Wawrinka and Kevin Anderson will contest their Basel openers on Wednesday. They have intriguing matchups on their hands with Ivo Karlovic and Borna Coric, respectively.
Ivo Karlovic vs. (2) Stan Wawrinka
Wawrinka and Karlovic will be squaring off for the seventh time in their careers and for the second time this season when they do battle in round one of Swiss Indoors Basel on Wednesday. The head-to-head series stands at 5-1 in favor of Wawrinka, who most recently outlasted Karlovic 6-7(2), 7-6(5), 7-6(5) in a Cincinnati showdown that featured zero breaks of serve (both players had three break points). That was not their first thriller, as the Swiss also prevailed 11-9 in the fifth set at Wimbledon in 2006. Karlovic’s lone victory came via a 6-3, 7-6(3) decision on the grass courts of Queen’s Club in 2007.
Following a brief rough patch after the winning the French Open, Wawrinka picked up the pace at the U.S. Open. The fourth-ranked Swiss is 14-2 in his last 16 matches dating back to the start of the season’s final Grand Slam, with a title in Tokyo. Also in fine form, Karlovic is 36-23 for the season and up to 23rd in the world. The 36-year-old Croat reached the Vienna quarterfinals last week before succumbing to Ernests Gulbis 7-6(4), 7-6(5). A similarly tough setback could be in the offing for Karlovic, because he is a surprisingly poor 4-7 in tiebreakers this fall and 4-11 in ‘breakers dating back to his second set against Wawrinka in Cincinnati.
Pick:Â Wawrinka in 2
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(4) Kevin Anderson vs. Borna Coric
Anderson and Coric will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers on Wednesday. Their only previous meeting came this summer in Winston-Salem, where Anderson scored a 6-2, 7-6(1) victory on his way to the title. The 6’8” South African’s hot streak consisting of the Winston-Salem triumph and a quarterfinal performance at the U.S. Open is a big reason why he is 12th in the world and in contention for an alternate spot at the World Tour Finals.
Coric’s breakout 2015 campaign includes 25 of his 32 career ATP-level match wins, but he registers 14 spots off his best-ever ranking at 47th in the world in part because his 2014 Basel semifinal points have already come off the board. The 18th-ranked Croat may be slowing down mentally and physically at the end of a very long year, saddled with a 1-5 record in ATP tournament matches since his last tilt against Anderson. A veteran like Anderson who is playing with a ton of confidence should be able to capitalize.
Pick:Â Anderson in 2
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Gut feeling coric wins in three and going with Stan in three tight sets though upset very possible if he isn’t focused.
I’m picking Stan and Kevin. The sooner Dr Ace is out of the draw the better.
Anderson had shoulder problems a few days ago in his match against Johnson. Don’t think he is 100%. If coric plays serious and can drag the match over a hour, I think coric can produce a upset. I got coric in three and hopefully wawrinka to complete my ten team parlay.
who are the other 8
I am picking Stan to beat Karlovic in 2 sets.
Anderson over Coric in 2 sets.
Stan to win, which will complete my 4 pick multi;
Kohlschreiber – win
Isner – win
Federer – under 18.5 games
Wawrinka – (win) yet to play
strong. Altho any Karlovic match is just about 50-50.
Stanimal vs Karlovic players warming up. Stan to serve first.
Yes, here we go. Finally the tennis channel is done with the women’s matches and I can watch men’s tennis.
This should be a good one.
I just got to see highlights on the tennis channel of the Anderson/Coric match. At least I got that one right. Anderson just had too much firepower for the kid. I am not as confident about my other prediction, Stan beating Karlovic in 2 sets. We know how easy it can be for Karlovic to get at least a set. All it takes is one break for him and there goes the set.
Stan holds to 15.
1st point Stan blocks the return Karlovic misses the volley long, 2nd point Karlovic with a huge serve, 3rd point Karlovic comes to the net and forced Stan to net 30-15, Karlovic with a double fault 30-30, Karlovic with his first ace of the match has game point and Karlovic holds when a a big serve sets up an easy volley.
Karlovic wins the first point when Stan hits a forehand long, then an ace,a nonreturnable serve puts Stan ahead 30-15 Karlovic misses a forehand but challenges he is proven wrong 40-15 another good serve and Stan again holds to 15.
Karlovic with a good 2nd serve, then a double fault, a missed forehand a missed volley at the net and Stan has 2 Bp, Karlovic saves the 1st with an ace but Stan breaks when Karlovic double faults on 2nd Bp.
set
Karlovic wins the 1st point on Stan’s serve but Stan wins 4 of the next 5 points and holds to 30.
Stan 4-1
1st point Karlovic comes to the net and forces Stan to miss, 2nd point a big serve by Karlovic forces Stan to miss the backhand return, 3rd point an ace by Karlovic he hasd 40-0 and another handcuffing serve by Karlovic he holds to love.
Stan holds with great ease and moves ahead 5-2
Karlovic serving to stay in the set he has only won 5 return points in 4 return games, Karlovic with a volley 15-0 and ace 30-0, Stan with a lob Karlovic chases it down but Stan with a decent volley wins the point Karlovic then wins the next 2 points to hold.
a forehand miss by Stan, 0-15 a netted forehand by Karlovic 15 all, a double fault by Stan 15-30 a good forehand gives Karlovic 2 Bp Stan saves both , Stan has a set point but misses the forehand long, a nonreturnable serve gives Stan a 2nd set point and another first serve seals the set for Stan 6-3.
“saves” is generous
Well I am feeling better about my prediction now. Stan got it done pretty easily in that first set. Nice work to hold when serving for the set.
unforgivable last return game by Karlovic
Yes, he did have his chances but couldn’t get it done.
He has no return game so no.
C’est moi.
Stan has 3 bps to start the 2nd set,Karlovic saves 1 when he comes to the net, he saves the 2nd with a good serve but Stan breaks with a forehand pass.
1st set stats Karovic 5 aces 3 double faults 48% first serves in 100% first serve points won but only 33% 2nd serve points won. Stan 1 ace 1 double fault 58% first service 78 % points won on 1st serve and 62 % points won on 2nd serve.
Stan holds to 15 and he has a 2-0 lead in 2nd set,
Stan converted VMP with a forehand pass
Vmp? Does that mean virtual match point cuz if it does then that makes sense cuz he basically just won lol
VMP = Virtual Match Point, yep
What’s vmp? Virtual match point? That would make sense cuz he basically already won with the early break in the second.
Stan is in control now.
Well it’s not VMP now because Karlovic broke back and is now playing extremely well. It’s not over yet.
Karlovic is in trouble as he falls behind 0-30 on serve but with the help of 2 aces he wins the next 4 points to reduce the arrears. Stan 2-1.
Karlovic with a return winner, Karlovic comes to the net but Stan hits another pass, Stan comes to the net and puts away the volley 30-15, Stan with a backhand down the line winner 40-15 and Stan with another easy volley holds comfortably.
Karovic holds to 15, Stan 3-2
Karlovic tries a forehand down the line but nets, a backhand long by Stan 15 all an ace by Stan 30-15 Karlovic with a forehand winner 30 all, Stan misses a forehand and Karlovic has a bp and Karlovic breaks with a volley winner.
3 all 2nd set.
Karlovic now brimming with confidence holds to love there was a 2nd serve ace in that game.
Stan let Karlovic back in the match with that break of serve and now he’s taking full advantage. I thought this was looking too routine.
Stan with a love hold of his own, 4 all.
Karlovic comes to the net stan cant get the backhand into play, Karlovic again comes to the net and puts away the volley 30-0, Karlovic with an ace, his 11th of the match and its 40-0 Karlovic holds to love for the 2nd straight time 5-4, Stan to serve to stay in the set.
Stan serving to stay in the set and he holds to 15, its 5 games all.
Karlovic holds to love for the 3rd consecutive time, he has dropped just 1 point in last 4 service games.
Stan again serving to stay in the set and force a tiebreak.
can’t believe Ivo broke back
Stan holds to love and after 70 minutes we have a 2nd set tiebreak.
Karlovic 1-0 in Tb
Karlovic with a forehand/volley combo has the mini break.
Karlovic with 2 good serves extends his lead to 4-1
Karlovic with another mini break 5-2 he.
Karlovic with 4 set points but he needs just the one as he serves an ace set to Karlovic 7-6(2)
Everything was going swimmingly for Stan then he dropped his serve after breaking Karlo, now they are one set all.
Stan has the advantage of serving first in final set.
So now it’s going to be decided in a third set. What a turn of events.
Stan has suddenly lost it, he’s down a break in the final set.
Stan nets a forehand, Karlovic misses his forehand return 15 all, Stan with a double fault 15-30, Stan with a forehand long Karlovic has 2 Bps and Karlovic does break when Stan misses a forehand wide.
what a turnaround
Stan with a backhand pass wins the 1st point but Karlovic with some good play including a 2nd serve ace and a volley winner holds to 30.
Stan holds but he now has to find a way to break.
Karlovic holds to 15 and moves ahead 3-1
Lesson 1. When you break a servbot you don’t hand it back.
Can Dr.Ivo keep this up? WaWa has a habit of raising his level when it really matters.
It’s easy for Dr Ace to hold serve so I think he can keep it up.
Stan misses a volley at 15 all but wins the next 3 points to hold.
of course he can keep it up, they call him Dr.IVo because he has a PhD in serving aces.
Karlovic holds to love 4-2.
Stan holds.
saves MP
Ivo holds to 15 and he is just a game away Stan serving to stay in the match.
inauspicious start for Stan as he starts with a double fault soon its 15-30 a missed backhand gives Ivo Karlovic 2 Mps Stan saves the 1st and the 2nd, Stan has game point and he holds his serve, Karlovic will now serve for the match.
Stan lost. Such a shame
Dr Ivo wins
It would seem WaWa didn’t want the win enough 🙂
Holy Crap! Karlovic wins the match! I can hardly believe it! Stan was in full control of this match. One break and that was all it took.
Talk about your surprises. Ricky said something about it always being 50-50 with Karlovic and now we see why. It’s like a crap shoot.
Dr Ivo with 20 aces, 90% 1st serve points won (43/48) and 3 of 5 break points converted wins 3-6 7-6(2) 6-4
You can’t relax against these servbot so. Stan did really well until he took his eye off the ball in the 2nd set. He was even a break up.
You just cant drop your serve against Karlovic, if you cant break at least hold on to your serve and take your chances in TB. When you drop your serve against Karlovic it’s curtains for you.
Okay now it’s Rafa time!
sorry 2 of 5 bps converted by Ivo
Nooooo really Stan?!
I saw most of the match…Ivo was serving really well and playing some good volleys even from the backhand side which has always been his weakness…it was shocking to watch…poor crowd cheering for Wawa, I felt sorry for them…
And the reason why I started watching the match in the first place (cause I hate watching big serving machines!) was to see how on earth was Ivo able to break Wawa?!! But must admit Wawa did not look himself…ah, love ruins everything… 🙂