A surprising Buenos Aires final will pit Dominic Thiem against Nicolas Almagro on Sunday. Across the pond in Rotterdam, Martin Klizan will try to keep his remarkable run going against Gael Monfils.
Buenos Aires: (5) Dominic Thiem vs. Nicolas Almagro
Thiem and Almagro will be facing each other for the second time in their careers and for the second time already this season when they meet again in the Argentina Open title match on Sunday. They just squared off last month at the Australian Open, where Thiem dominated 6-3, 6-1, 6-3. Now, however, Almagro finds himself on his preferred clay-court surface. The 30-year-old Spaniard is on fire this week with victories over Albert Montanes, Federico Delbonis, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and David Ferrer. Almagro rolled over Tsonga 6-2, 7-5 then ended a futile mark of 0-15 lifetime against Ferrer by pulling off a 6-4, 7-5 upset.
It must be said that Almagro benefited massively from the fact that Ferrer had to play two matches on Saturday because of a previous rain delay (the Spaniard fought past Pablo Cuevas 6-4, 1-6, 6-3). Now he faces an opponent who is coming off one of the biggest wins of his career that lasted two hours and 50 minutes, as Thiem saved a match point and stunned Rafael Nadal 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(4) in the semifinals. The 19th-ranked Austrian preceded that scalp with defeats of Pablo Carreno Busta, Gastao Elias (also saved one match point), and Dusan Lajovic. Unfortunately for Almagro, Thiem is also at his best on clay even though the 22-year-old is an all-court player. Almagro may have an edge if this goes three, but Thiem is sky-high on confidence right now and should be able to finish the job in straights–just as he did in Melbourne.
Pick: Thiem in 2
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Rotterdam: Martin Klizan vs. (5) Gael Monfils
Monfils and Klizan will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers and for the first time in almost nine years when they battle for the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament title on Sunday afternoon. Their only previous meeting came at the 2007 Washington, D.C. event, where Monfils prevailed 7-6(5), 6-4. The Frenchman has been surprisingly business-like so far in Rotterdam. He has taken out Ernests Gulbis, Borna Coric, Alexander Zverev, and Philipp Kohlschreiber with little fanfare. After dropping his only set of the week to Coric, Monfils promptly dominated the third 6-2.
Business-like is exactly what Klizan has not been en route to his fourth career ATP final. The 43rd-ranked Slovak saved five match points against Roberto Bautista Agut before fighting off three more in what was a bizarre semifinal performance against Nicolas Mahut. Despite all kinds of laughable antics, Klizan kept his wits about him to storm back for a 6-7(3), 7-6(7), 6-2 victory. Klizan is 3-0 lifetime in ATP title matches, whereas Monfils is a horrendous 5-17. To say Monfils is due for something more than a 250-point triumph would be an understatement. This is also one of the rare occasions on which the world No. 18 appears to be in a much more stable mental frame of mind than his opponent.
Pick: Monfils in 2
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who ya got?
La Monf and Thiem to win in straights.
yep
What, or who, has brought about this sudden change in Monfils? Almost overnight he changed from the court jester (pun intended) to a man with a mission i.e to win something more than a 250 title. His defensive skills should be equal to the task of quellling the new Houdini of tennis but it could possibly take 3 sets.
le Monf in 3
Thiem in 3
I’m going to give the benefit of the doubt to Almagro based on current Clay form that he snags a set. Thiem played a grueling match with Nadal and a potential let down is very possible after arguably the biggest win of his career. Nevertheless, the youngster already has 3 Clay Titles under his belt from last year and his confidence has to be soaring. Almagro does have some quality wins here over Tsonga (Tons of Unforced Errors and Double Faults) and David Ferrer (No Rest after 3 Sets) but they’re definitely questionable. Thiem gets his first 2016 ATP Title here in Buenos Aires.
Monfils in 2
Having watched every match, Monfils seems like he’s hungry for that tournament paycheck. I’ve rarely seen him goof off as much and based on how he’s been attacking second serves I think Klizan will have no room for errors. Those last two matches for Klizan took so much mental toughness that I think it may have been too much against an in form Monfils. The lefty Klizan may throw some solid winners in the process, but all in all Monfils seems intent on earning these Ranking points.
Almagro will win if it goes 3
you mean you’ve rarely seen him goof off so LITTLE?
Haha he’s been pretty tame by his standards. He just looks like he has a more competitive fire in his eye
Fear the Rafa curse!
I know it’s not a slam but got a feeling this one is Almagro’s.
Wish TennisTV were showing the doubles final. Mahut and Popsi won 1st set and it’s going with serve in the 2nd.
Want to see Mahut salvage the title from the wreckage of his loss against Klizan.
Mahut and Popsi get the win. That should put a smile on their faces.
CALLED it at the start of the tournament
I think Almagro will win in two.Monfils should win but I’ll go with crazy Klizan in three.
VERY crazy Klizan
Voted Almagro in 3 and Monfils in 3.
Finding myself hating on Klizan at the moment – not sure where all that emotion is coming from. Too much coffee maybe?
Allez Gael! Gets the 1st set 🙂
Set Monf
Until the TB I was thinking it was going to be a 3-setter. It still could be but looking more ikely that all the people who reckoned it would be over in two might be right. You have to laugh – it’s taken till now for the commies to stop rabbiting on about Monfils’ amusing antics and recognise he is taking his tennis seriously.
it’s going 3 🙁
Really hoped Gael would get this done in 2.
I am watching the Monfils-klizan match now. I didn’t get on in time to make a prediction, but I would have gone with Monfils. I would love to see him win this.
His new coach has gotten him to serious up on the court.
I know I shouldn’t be surprised given Klizan’s week but wow he’s really cranking out those forehands! Good way to steal the second set
Too sad. My hopes were up for Gael to get this trophy. Done watching this, uhg – Klizan annoys me.
rc,
I feel the same way. I really thought Monfils would win this, but he’s getting blown out in the third set.
Week of Destiny for Martin Klizan! What a great match!
Monfils is the biggest clown in the history of finals
How was the quality?
Looking back at Nadal’s matches and the Nadal curse is seriously real! Almost every opponent who took out Nadal precedes to lose next round…I may be scaring myself out of this Thiem pick haha
when is Rafito’s first match in RDJ?
Almagro is a choker but he should still be able to handle Thiem who hasn’t looked all that good this week.
I had a feeling that Monfils would have a letdown. Considering he’s Monfils. And Thiem in trouble too. But he just broke back in the third.
As I said, Mugro is a choker.
Thiem’s first serve really helped him through those final points in the 3rd set. Glad he hung in there and is proving that he’s an elite talent! 4th Clay Title in the past two seasons!
How was the quality?
I saw the last set only and the quality seemed pretty solid it wasn’t amazing but it was clutch aggression from Thiem in the final set breaker. Plus Almagro missed a few too many shots it seemed.
cool thanks
Mugro was a dismal 3 for 11 on BP conversions. Thiem was 1 of 3.