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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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.