Roger Federer and Andy Murray are on a collision course for the Dubai semifinals but will first have to get through Thursday’s matches. They are going up against Richard Gasquet and Borna Coric, respectively.
(3) Andy Murray vs. (LL) Borna Coric
Murray and Coric will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers when they do battle in the quarterfinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Thursday. They faced each other two years ago in a Davis Cup playoff rubber on the clay courts of Croatia, where Murray cruised 6-3, 6-0, 6-3. The two players are also linked by Coric’s recent blown-out-of-proportion comments suggesting that his game is like Novak Djokovic’s when he is playing well but like Murray’s when he is playing poorly.
Whatever the case, Coric far more established now than he was the last time he went up against Murray. The 18-year-old is up to 84th in the world and already owns four ATP-level match victories this season. After getting into the Dubai main draw as a lucky loser, Coric beat Malek Jaziri then got a retirement in a third-set tiebreaker from Marcos Baghdatis. Murray advanced with routine wins over Joao Sousa and Gilles Muller. Even though coach Amelie Mauresmo is still absent, the third-ranked Scot appears to be bouncing back nicely from a Rotterdam loss to Gilles Simon. That is bad news for Coric, whose good fortune this week is likely to run out.
Pick: Murray in 2
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Richard Gasquet vs. (2) Roger Federer
Federer and Gasquet will be squaring off for the 16th time in their careers on Thursday. The head-to-head series stands at a dominant 13-2 in favor of Federer, who has taken all seven of their previous hard-court meetings. In those seven contests, the 33-year-old Swiss is 14-1 in sets and has won 12 sets in a row. To say that does not bode well for Gasquet would be an understament; nor does the fact that Federer is 44-5 lifetime in Dubai with six titles.
The No. 2 seed is looking good once again at this event with a 6-3, 6-1 scalp of Mikhail Youzhny followed by a 6-4, 6-3 victory at Fernando Verdasco’s expense on Wednesday. Federer went on a streak of 20 straight points against Verdasco after trailing 4-1 in the opening set. Gasquet held off Andreas Seppi 6-4, 6-7(1), 6-4 on Monday before outlasting Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(6) in the second round. The 27th-ranked Frenchman is an outstanding 10-2 in 2015 with a title in Montpellier. Still, there is no reason to think he can turn the tide against Federer; not at this particular tournament, at least.
Pick: Federer in 2
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Fed vs Gasquet???
I thought you didn’t see the point in predicting the obvious.
Poor muzza with a bad case of cramping.
After Muzza’s loss due to cramping, Rafa will automatically pass him in the rankings next week.
Muzza will fall to No. 5 if Nishikori makes it to the Acapulco final.
If Nishikori wins the title this week and Rafa fails to win Buenos Aires, then Nishi will pass both of them to reach a career high No. 3.
So either Rafa or Nishi will be No. 3 next week regardless of what happens.
Let’s not forget that Rafa only has 6 months worth of points. No need to panic.
No secrets
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hawkeye,
I appreciate you keeping us updated on the rankings. It’s good to know that Rafa pass Murray. I dearly hope he wins this tournament for many reasons, one being that he can gain some points! I have noticed that it’s tight between #3, 4 and 5 these days.
I am not surprised to read that Nishi could become #3 if he wins the title. Even more reason why I want Rafa to win Buenos Aires. The most important won is just that he needs to get a title for his confidence. There’s nothing like holding a trophy again.
Sorry for the typos in my post @ 4:35 pm. I meant to say it’s good to know that Rafa will pass Murray.
Then I meant to write – the most important ONE is that he needs to get a title!
Not enough sleep! 🙂
Federer will stomp all over Coric on his way to the final.
Looking forward to another Fedole matchup this weekend.
it will be on Nole’s racquet but Federer’s mental advantage could be the difference.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B-x25iGXIAABkdY.jpg
#ColourMeImpressed
Fed over Gasket losing one game or less.
#DubaiYou???
Fed takes the first set 6-1.
Congrats to Me (as usual).
hawkeye63 says: February 25, 2015 at 7:30 pm
Given it’s Gasquet, Federer will probably find a way to do it in one.
Fed wins in one set losing one game or less!!!
LOL just as I predicted.
#Gasquit
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Federer will stomp on this pretender in two losing 4 games or less on his way to the final.
#DubaiYou???
What Ricky. No props for My amaaaaziiiiing pick of Fed to win in one set losing one game or less????
#RodneyDangerfield
Speaks volumes that Muzza goes out to Coric and not a word about it here other than Myself. Deucey would have had something to say.
https://twitter.com/genny_ss/status/570976769580380161
Poor Muzza cramped.
Murray did cramp? That’s surprising. He’s pretty fit. I would never have thought Coric would have a shot at the win, but as the tweet said 50 UE’s from Murray says it all.
It was a brain “cramp” of the figurative kind. 🙂 Not a muscle cramp nor a stomach cramp.
Some here are very familiar with them. 🙂
hawkeye,
Oh sorry, my bad! 🙂
So Murray lost it mentally. That’s still surprising.