Richard Gasquet will be bidding for his third Montpellier title when he takes the court on Sunday against Jerzy Janowicz. Meanwhile, the Zagreb final will feature fellow veterans Andreas Seppi and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.
Open Sud de France: (3) Richard Gasquet vs. (5) Jerzy Janowicz
Montpellier is undoubtedly one of Gasquet’s best tournaments and he will be aiming for his third title on Sunday. The 28th-ranked Frenchman is 19-6 lifetime at the event, having lifted the trophy in both 2006 and 2013. A runner-up last season, Gasquet avenged that loss to Gael Monfils by beating his compatriot 6-4, 6-3 in Saturday’s semis. He preceded that win by getting the best of Lucas Pouille and Denis Istomin, also in straight sets. Gasquet has won multiple matches at all three of his events in 2015.
In similarly solid form, Janowicz advanced one round in Sydney, two rounds at the Australian Open, and now he is through to a title match. The 44th-ranked Pole earned a place in his third career final by defeating Dustin Brown, Benoit Paire, Gilles Simon, and Joao Sousa. Only his clash with Simon lasted two sets and he even needed six match-point saves to get past Brown. Almost out in the first round, Janowicz has made the most of new life. The No. 5 seed may not be so lucky against an opponent who has home-court advantage and playing like there is no place he would rather perform.
Pick: Gasquet in 3
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PBZ Zagreb Indoors: (5) Guillermo Garcia-Lopez vs. (4) Andreas Seppi
Garcia-Lopez and Seppi will be going head-to-head for the sixth time in their careers when they battle for the Zagreb title on Sunday. Seppi has won all four of their previous encounters and is 12-1 in total sets at the expense of Garcia-Lopez. The Italian is four for four at the ATP main-draw level after most recently prevailing 7-5, 6-3 three years ago in Doha. Seppi is 3-0 versus the Spaniard on hard courts and 2-0 on clay, but they have never faced each other indoors.
Both veterans are in outstanding form to begin the 2015 campaign, already positioning themselves for seeding in Indian Wells, Miami, and ultimately at the French Open. Garcia-Lopez reached the Chennai quarterfinals, made a fourth-round run in Melbourne, and so far this week has taken out Damir Dzumhur, Viktor Troicki, and Marcos Baghdatis. Seppi matched Garcia-Lopez’s Australian Open result by upsetting Roger Federer and he is back in business in Zagreb with victories over Robin Haase, James Ward, Ricardas Berankis, and Marcel Granollers. Ranked eight spots behind his opponent at 41st in the world, Seppi won his first three matches of the event in three sets. That tenacity in close contests should see him through to yet another scalp of Garcia-Lopez.
Pick: Seppi in 3
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Gasquet by retirement
Andreas Seppi, who destroyed Fed at the AO 2015, lost to the Spaniard.
Losing in 5 is a destruction yet getting 8 games and being beaten in straight sets is not?
#Confused
Losing is 5 is destruction yet getting only 8 games in a straight set loss isn’t?
#Confused
Destroyed????
To paraphrase Ricky, Seppi threw the kitchen sink at his opponent throughout the match and the Spaniard came up with all the answers.
Isn’t that how Nadal used to beat Berdych when he was in his prime?
I am going with Gasquet to get the win in three sets. It could be tough because when JJ is on he’s dangerous.
I also agree with Ricky’s pick of Seppi winning in three sets.
3 sets? It only lasted 3 games!
Just as an aside, does anybody here actually watch tennis?
Most do. However a couple just watch Rafa.
hawkeye63
February 8, 2015 at 6:59 pm
You are watching other posters here.
chevelle, if you’re not a Rafa fan, you’ll get bored, tired or both here quickly. That’s why it’s mostly one way traffic.
actually as an unbiased observer i am quite entertained here
Unbiased eh?
Hypothetically yes. Technically no.
chevelle,
Since I am unable to see the match until a day later when the tennis channel will replay it, maybe you could enlighten us with what happened. I did check the score and saw that it was 3-0 Gasquet, so it would appear that Jerzy couldn’t finish the match. Do you have any information about an injury or are you just here to ask the rest of us if we watch tennis?
Oh and for myself, the answer is – absolutely YES and probably for longer than you have been alive.
That doesn’t make my prediction or Ricky’s wrong, by the way. Things happen in matches that no one can foresee. There was no reason to think that Jerzy wouldn’t show up okay and able to play. He can be dangerous when his game is on and the match should have been competitive. If he retired with injury, then that’s just how it goes sometimes. Too bad for him, but I am happy for Gasquet.
The Rafa crazies (only a couple here) are ok when Rafa is doing well but get quite boorish when he is struggling.
chevelle says:
February 8, 2015 at 5:40 pm
“Just as an aside, does anybody here actually watch tennis?”
……………………………………………………………………………………….
Why are you asking? Don’t you?
hawkeye63 says:
February 8, 2015 at 6:59 pm
“Most do. However a couple just watch Rafa.”
That’s you and chloro.
hawkeye63 says:
February 8, 2015 at 11:16 pm
“The Rafa crazies (only a couple here) are ok when Rafa is doing well but get quite boorish when he is struggling.”
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
You must be looking in the mirror.
Yep, hawkeye63 must…
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B9Zbr6lIcAACEIn.png
Turns out I was right (as always)! Rafa lost didn’t he? (Although, perhaps you thought Rafa was physically fit and still got beaten though.)
When I wrote that post, I was talking about Rafa’s TENNIS.
The boorish behaviour that I am referring to has absolutely NOTHING to do with tennis or even Rafa directly for that matter but more to do with the overly obsessive fandom and the resultant obvious unhealthy self defining of oneself through those that they idolize, idealize and put on a pedestal.
#YoureWelcomeMyFan
hawkeye63
February 9, 2015 at 3:23 pm
Theses theses, theses….
Someone has way too much time on their hands! Really? Posting something from almost a year ago that hawkeye said?
Who cares!!
nativenewyorker7
February 9, 2015 at 6:53 pm,
Copying long essays takes much less time than writing them. People who are writing them must have a lot of time in their hands! .:lol:
On request, My secretary has provided several examples above of the boorish behaviour I’ve alluded to.
Seppi and Gasquet in 3. What a great start to the year for Seppi!
London calling!!
hahaha 😛
Yep, Gasquet in 3 – but, in 3 GAMES!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B9awcLUCcAAyEGm.png