The overall quarterfinal lineup in Dubai is surprising, but Gael Monfils is one of the favorites who has advanced. Monfils will face Fernando Verdasco on Thursday, while Evgeny Donskoy hopes to continue his run at the expense of Lucas Pouille.
Fernando Verdasco vs. (4) Gael Monfils
Monfils and Verdasco will be going head-to-head for the fourth time in their careers when they battle for a place in the semifinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Thursday. All three of their previous meetings have gone Monfils’ way; 7-5, 6-4 at the 2008 Monte-Carlo Masters, 6-7(4), 7-6(2), 7-5 two years later on the indoor hard courts of Paris, and 6-7(8), 6-4, 6-4 at the 2013 Winston-Salem event.
Verdasco is one of five unseeded players in the last eight of this tournament. The 35th-ranked Spaniard had been a mere 1-4 in his last five matches prior to this week (although two of those losses were to Novak Djokovic), but he has advanced in Dubai by beating Andreas Seppi 6-2, 7-5 and Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 3-6, 7-5. Monfils took a similar path to the quarters, defeating Mohamed Safwat in straight sets and Dan Evans in three. Ever since the start of last season, the 12th-ranked Frenchman has–whenever healthy–been focused, motivated, and quite simply outstanding. He is far more reliable than Verdasco to turn in a third straight commendable performance and earn a spot in the semis.
Pick: Monfils in 3
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(Q) Evgeny Donskoy vs. (7) Lucas Pouille
Donskoy is coming off the most improbable win over his career. During second-round action on Wednesday night, the 26-year-old Russian stunned Roger Federer 3-6, 7-6(7), 7-6(5) after saving three match points in the second-set tiebreaker, storming back from a 5-2 deficit in the third set, and digging out of a 5-1 hole in the third-set tiebreaker. It had already been a stellar week of Donskoy, who qualified for the main draw with victories over Peter Gojowyczk and James McGee before taking out Mikhail Youzhny 6-4, 6-4.
Up next for the world No. 116 is a third career contest against Pouille. The head-to-head series is tied at one win apiece, with Pouille having prevailed 6-4, 7-5 at a Futures event in Russia before Donskoy got the job done 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-4 at the 2015 U.S. Open. Pouille began his 2017 campaign in alarmingly dismal form, but it is all turning around right now. The 15th-ranked Frenchman finished runner-up to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga last week in Marseille and has advanced in Dubai with straight-set defeats of Adam Pavlasek and Marius Copil. Building on such a monumental moment may be too difficult for Donskoy, especially against an in-form and confident opponent who spent his offseason training in none other than Dubai–with none other than Federer.
Pick: Pouille in 2
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who ya got?
Pouille in 2 and Monfils in 2
I am with Benny.
Monfils and Pouille in 2 sets.
don’t think Verdasco’s style matches up well against Monfils … Donskoy is this week’s Casper Ruud …. not sure how much credit to give him yet but kinda have to ride the wave while they’re hot … i think donskoy in 3
Doubt that happens. Donskoy will probably come back down to earth. It is possible though. I mean Denis Istomin took down PCB after the djoker win in Melbourne.
Donskoy was playing above his head before this match also imo … Basilashvili has had a similar run although on a lower level … the pro tour is thankfully changing as the younger players who are not scared to win are taking their place and the old guard who has given up on beating the top guys is getting pushed out …
monfils doing his 1st set warm up, doesn’t care routine.
monfils doing his 2nd set warmup cannot win routine
Down a set, and a break in the 2nd set Monfils, got to get it together. Have to give credit to Verdasco though.
Expected
Monfils winning in three?