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: 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: 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.