The 2019 tennis season will hit the ground running in Doha, Brisbane and Pune, as the men’s tour prepares for the Australian Open. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, young gun Karen Khachanov, and Dominic Thiem take the court on Doha’s loaded Tuesday schedule.
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. Damir Dzumhur
Staring down the barrel of a well-rested Novak Djokovic is probably not the way Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Damir Dzumhur wanted to start his 2019 campaign. While it’s true that the Serbian world No. 1 failed to win his last two events of the season, his 2018 resurgence was one for the record books. An in-form Djokovic is far from a welcome sight in the first round.
To add further insult to injury, the last match Dzumhur played was in the round of 16 in Paris–where he suffered a 6-1, 2-1 beating at the hands of Djokovic before retiring.
Cheryl pick: Djokovic in 2 with no tiebreakers
Ricky pick: Djokovic in 2 with no tiebreakers
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(3) Karen Khachanov vs. Stan Wawrinka
Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka endured a positively miserable year in 2018. The Swiss failed to win a tournament, and thanks to a lengthy recovery from injury, he limped through the first two-thirds of the season. He enjoyed a few bright spots in the summer and fall, including a semifinal showing in St. Petersburg, but he is still ranked outside the top 50 at No. 66 in the world.
Russia’s Karen Khachanov, conversely, had the season of his young career in 2018. The 22 year-old is ranked a career-high 11th in the world and won his first Masters event in Paris with an impressive win over Djokovic. He will be looking to translate his success to the best of 5 format of the slams.
Drawing Wawrinka in the first round is a spot of rotten luck for Khachanov, as the veteran is more than capable of playing far above his current ranking. Still, with the form Khachanov displayed in the last quarter of the season in 2018, the Russian should get through.
Cheryl pick: Khachanov in 3
Ricky pick: Khachanov in 3
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(2) Dominic Thiem vs. Pierre-Hugues Herbert
France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert is a tricky first round opponent for Dominic Thiem. The Frenchman spent some time in 2018 on the Challenger circuit, and was often forced to qualify for the main draw of tournaments. Still, Herbert showed some flashes of brilliance. The world No. 55 defeated Thiem in their only other meeting last year in Rotterdam.
Thiem has been largely a clay court specialist over the last few years, and thus has been susceptible to upsets on other surfaces. The Austrian seems to have found his way on hard courts, however. Thiem had a solid run to the quarterfinals in New York, and he made the semis at the Paris Masters.
While a first-round upset would not be completely surprising, given the surface, it’s likely that Herbert will find a more confident opponent in Thiem this time around.
Cheryl pick: Thiem in 2
Ricky pick: Thiem in 3
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WYG?
Wawa in 3. Just got a feeling. Thiem also in 3. Djoko in 2, losing 5 games.
This result would not be a surprise, either. If you’re a seed, Wawrinka is one of the worst players you could face. On any given day, he could play like he’s No. 3 in the world or No. 83. You just never know.
Stanimal did it! Very close 2 setter.
The Djoker rolled as expected, losing only 3 games. But Thiem lost in 2 to Herbert, and it was not close. Thiem not looking good at all so far this season.
Joker in a beat down; knov in 2; Thiem in 2…..Tennis is BACK!!!!
Djoko was struggling against first Fucsovics and then Bashy, doesn’t look good on him; however AO is BO5 so perhaps he’ll do better there.
Berdych was impressive, I think he takes a leaf out of Fed’s book, taking six months off not only to heal from injury but also practice hard to improve his game. He’s more willing to rush to the net in his matches, good to see. Fed inspired the 30 something guys who’re injured and working to come back from injury; special mention of Rafa when he’s 27 in 2013, made a comeback and went on to become YE no.1, fighting against a then near the peak Djoko!
Seeing Fed devotees’ comments about his ‘great comeback’ after his 6-month injury layoff always reminds me that Fed’s supporters were eagerly creating/spreading defamatory stories about Rafa when the latter returned from his seven-month layoff in February 2013. Rafa won 10 titles during the year, 2 GSs among them, and ended the year as world No.1. Fed devotees were falsely claiming that Rafa was absent from the tour due to receiving a silent ban. The anti-Rafa campaigners beacame quiet(er) after Rafa won his defamation case against former French health and sports minister Roselyne at the end of 2017. Disgusting campaigners!