David Goffin will kick off his 2016 campaign against Thomaz Bellucci on Monday in Brisbane. Bellucci’s doubles partner, Steve Johnson, is facing Viktor Troicki.
(6) David Goffin vs. Thomaz Bellucci
Goffin and Bellucci will be squaring off for the third time in their careers when they clash in round one of the Brisbane International on Tuesday. The head-to-head series stands at 1-1, with Bellucci leading 1-0 on hard courts. Following the Brazilian’s 7-6(5), 6-2 victory three years ago in Auckland, Goffin got the job done 6-4, 6-2 last season on the clay courts of Gstaad.
It was a stellar 2015 campaign for Goffin, who led Belgium on a surprising run to the Davis Cup final. As for his own individual exploits, the 25-year-old peaked inside the top 15 at 14th in the world before settling in the No. 16 spot. Goffin’s year included a double-break lead over Novak Djokovic in the third set of their third-round match in Cincinnati, but the top-ranked Serb reeled off six straight games for victory. At No. 37, Bellucci needs a huge result this week to snag a seed for the Australian Open. The Brazilian is 2-5 during the Australian summer dating back to the start if 2013. A hard court should give an in-form Goffin a significant advantage this time around.
Pick: Goffin in 2
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Viktor Troicki vs. Steve Johnson
Johnson is right on the Aussie Open seeding cut leading heading into his first-round match in Brisbane. The American registers at 32nd in the world on the heels of a breakout 2015 season that saw him win 36 matches at the ATP level. An especially impressive fall swing featured a runner-up performance in Vienna followed by a heartbreaking loss to Roberto Bautista Agut in the Valencia semifinals.
In his first full year back on tour following a 12-month suspension, Troicki surged into the top 30. The Serb started just inside the top 100 but captured the Sydney title as a qualifier and never looked back. Troicki’s season could have been even better if not for a pair of disastrous collapses at the summer slams. He lost to Vasek Pospisil from two sets up in the Wimbledon fourth round and did the same against Donald Young during third-round action at the U.S. Open. This is sure to be a competitive contest, in which case a red-hot Johnson would have a clear edge in the mental department at pressure moments.
Pick: Johnson in 3
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who ya got?
I am going with Goffin in 2 sets and Johnson in 3 sets.
Goffin in 3
Troicki in 3
It’s a hail mary.
Goffin is
Same choices but Goffin in three and Johnson in two