David Goffin will be looking to build on a breakout 2016 campaign when he begins 2017 on Monday in Doha. Robin Haase is Goffin’s opening-round opponent, while Fernando Verdasco and Vasek Pospisil are also taking the court on first-day action.
Robin Haase vs. (4) David Goffin
Goffin is coming off a stellar season that saw him earn an alternate spot at the World Tour Finals (he replaced Gael Monfils for one match and got clobbered by Novak Djokovic). The world No. 11 also warmed up for this year by finishing runner-up to Rafael Nadal at the recent six-man Abu Dhabi tournament, where he opened with victories over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Andy Murray. Goffin now owns a top-four seed at what will go down as one of the strongest 250-point events of 2017, the Qatar ExxonMobil Open.
Up first for Goffin on Monday is a second career meeting with Haase, whom the Belgian defeated 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-1 at the 2013 Miami Masters. Haase was mediocre 16-22 at the ATP level last season but enjoyed enough success on the Challenger circuit to finish at a respectable 59th in the rankings. The Dutchman is an erratic performer, especially in pressure situations, so this may not be a favorable matchup for him against a rock-solid, mistake-free opponent. Count on Goffin cruising in straight sets.
Pick: Goffin in 2
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(Q) Vasek Pospisil vs. Fernando Verdasco
Under the direction of new coach Mark Woodforde, Pospisil will be looking to make amends for what was a borderline disastrous 2016—during which he fell off the singles map and even struggled in doubles following a hot start to the season. So far things are going well for the 133rd-ranked Canadian, who had no trouble qualifying for the Doha main draw. He opened with a 6-2, 6-2 blowout of wild card Jabor Mohammed Ali Mutawa before hammering Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-2, 6-1.
A first-ever showdown with Verdasco awaits Pospisil on Monday night. The 42nd-ranked Spaniard will almost certainly be unseeded for the Australian Open, just as he was in 2016. Verdasco had to go up against countryman Rafael Nadal right off the bat in Melbourne but pulled off a five-set upset. For the most part it was downhill from there for the 33-year-old, who compiled a modest 29-26 record last season. With two matches already under his belt, Pospisil may be able to take an advantage of an opponent who is playing for the first time in 2017.
Pick: Pospisil in 3
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who ya got?
Goffin in two .Anythings pospisil in the other
Goffin in 2. Verdasco in 3.
Goffin in two pospy in two
Goffin in straight….and Fernando!!…in straight.
Verdasco wins, I thought so. He’s not finished yet
You’re right it’s pospy who’s done
How’d Pospisil make a wimby QF and just suck ever since? He’s so unpredictable. I really enjoy watching him when he’s on though. His serve and volleys are great along with his forehand. He just hasn’t gained any mojo in so long. When he’s playing well he’s smooth and interesting to watch but when’s he’s off it’s not so smooth ? Example of how he can catch fire all of a sudden was Shanghai last season when he beat dimitrov and Karlovic to reach the round of 16 and fall in a tight match to Novak. He also qualified there with wins over mannarino and Cervantes. Then he loses to ice cold Rosol in bercy and loses in the quarters of a challenger in Slovakia. Too frustrating. He went 25-23 with a grand slam QF included in 2015. 2016 he goes 10-23. With one slam victory. Also he made no ATP quarterfinals last year and only won back to back matches in an ATP main draw at Shanghai. Maybe his new coach Woodforde can get him back on track. His qualifying beatdowns of Ali Mutawa and more notably Basilashvili were promising but now he loses a 4-1 lead in the first set to fall 5 and 0 to Verdasco.