With just one full day of rest, Marseille runner-up Lucas Pouille will be back in action when he takes the court in Dubai against Ernests Gulbis. First-round action is also wrapping up with a showdown between Richard Gasquet and Borna Coric.
(Q) Ernests Gulbis vs. (2) Lucas Pouille
Pouille and Gulbis will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers when they meet again in round one of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Tuesday. Both of their previous encounters have gone Pouille’s way; 7-6(2), 7-6(4) two years ago in Rome qualifying and 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 one week later in Madrid. The 15th-ranked Frenchman is a heavier favorite this time around, as the two players have certainly gone in different directions since those two showdowns. Pouille is now the proud owner of five career ATP titles and has advanced to a pair of finals already this month (title in Montpellier, runner-up last week in Marseille).
Gulbis has fallen off the tennis map in recent years due to both injuries and poor play. The 195th-ranked Latvian has just 24 ATP-level match wins in total dating back to the start of 2015–none this season. He at least did well well to qualify for Dubai over the weekend, cruising past Lukas Lacko and Stefano Travaglia in straight sets. Pouille’s fatigue may give Gulbis a chance in this one, but the No. 2 seed should be able to get off the court fast enough before it becomes a real issue.
Pick: Pouille in 2
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Borna Coric vs. (5) Richard Gasquet
Like his fellow Frenchman, Gasquet’s highlight this season has also come in Montpellier–where he beat Daniil Medvedev, Pierre-Hugues Herbert, Damir Dzumhur, and David Goffin before finishing runner-up to Pouille. The world No. 37 also reached the third round of the Australian Open (lost to eventual champion Roger Federer) and helped defending champion France advance to the Davis Cup quarterfinals with a singles victory over Robin Haase.
Up first for Gasquet on Tuesday in Dubai is a second career contest against Coric, who lost their only previous meeting 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-1 in a 2016 Davis Cup semifinal rubber. The 50th-ranked Croat has been absent from the February swing thus far, so his 2018 record stands at a decent 4-2 (two wins coming in Davis Cup) with straight-set losses to Andrey Rublev (Doha) and John Millman (Australian Open). Coric’s defensive skills will make this competitive, but Gasquet should once again have the edge.
Pick: Gasquet in 3
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WYG?
Gulbis and Coric in three
Chasing bigger odds and trying to convince yourself your predictions might actually pan out eh? I say wishful thinking.
Gulbis gets hot easy. Pouille has gotta be tired plus Pouille is usually susceptible to early losses. Also, Coric is generally really good at Dubai (made semis two years back) and Gasquet hasn’t been that impressive this year. They’re both toss ups in my opinion. Also I don’t bet 🙂
Gasquet not coric. Coric’s been out of the game for a while. rusty as
Gulbis is BACK!!…maybe….he’ll win in 3….gasquet in 2.
nope!
and nope!
Dimitrov just lost.
Dubai just offered another wildcard to Federer.
#RigerballIsTheNewTennis