Finals previews and picks: Simon vs. Tsonga, Raonic vs. Sousa

SousaIt will be an all-French battle in the Metz final when Gilles Simon and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga collide on Sunday. In St. Petersburg, meanwhile, the title is coming down to Milos Raonic and Joao Sousa.

Moselle Open: (3) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. (2) Gilles Simon

Simon and Tsonga will be facing each other for the 10th time in their careers at the ATP level and for the second time in the Metz final when they meet again on Sunday. They squared off at the same stage of this same tournament in 2013, when Simon triumphed 6-4, 6-3. Tsonga, however, continues to lead the head-to-head series (currently 6-3) after prevailing 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-2 at the 2014 Australian Open. The two veteran Frenchmen have clashed four times on indoor hard courts in France, with Tsonga holding a 3-1 edge in those contests.

Struggling somewhat at No. 17 in the world, Tsonga is coming off a decent quarterfinal performance at the U.S. Open. He has advanced this week with victories over Mischa Zverev, Nicolas Mahut, and Philipp Kohlschreiber–dropping sets to Zverev and Mahut in the process. Simon has been in complete cruise control while taking out Edouard Roger-Vasselin, Gilles Muller, and Martin Klizan. The second seed is a stellar 37-19 for the season and in contention for an alternate spot at the World Tour Finals. Simon clearly loves this event and the court is once again playing slow enough for him to handle Tsonga’s power.

Pick: Simon in 3

[polldaddy poll=9097425]

St. Petersburg Open: (7) Joao Sousa vs. (2) Milos Raonic

Except maybe during the clay-court swing, never is Sousa better than on indoor hard courts during the fall swing. The 53rd-ranked Portuguese captured his lone ATP title two seasons ago in Kuala Lumpur and he is back in the final of an indoor 250-pointer for a third straight year (finished runner-up in Metz in 2014). So far this week Sousa has defeated Radu Albot, Marcel Granollers, Simone Bolelli, and Dominic Thiem.

Despite his excellence in these conditions, the No. 7 seed would much rather face Raonic on the slowest surface possible. Raonic has woken up from a prolonged slump by riding his huge serve to a trio of wins on this slick court. The second-seeded Canadian booked his spot in the title match thanks to straight-set victories over Evgeny Donskoy, Tommy Robredo, and Roberto Bautista Agut. This is Raonic’s fourth consecutive baseline-loving opponent, and another one against whom he will be able to dictate play with little trouble.

Pick: Raonic in 2

[polldaddy poll=9097424]

9 Comments on Finals previews and picks: Simon vs. Tsonga, Raonic vs. Sousa

  1. He was fighting up to the last ball like he did in the SF – but without the same result!

    I just can’t relate to Raonic. Something to do with his wooden expression and lack of animation. And that hairdo is a right put off.

  2. Tsonga was handed a breadstick in the 2nd set. He’s now pulled himself together and got the first break in the third thanks to a double net cord. Damn! He’s going to win this 🙁

  3. I have been browsing online more than 3 houfs today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours.
    It’spretty worth enough for me. In myy opinion,
    iff all site owners and bloggers made good conntent as you did, the intrnet will be
    a lot more useful than ever before.|
    I couldn’t refrain from commenting.Very well written!|
    I will immediately take hold of your rss as I can’t
    in finding your e-mail subscription link or newsletter service.
    Do you have any? Kindly permit me recognize in order that I may just subscribe.
    Thanks.|
    It is the best time to make some plans for the future and
    it is time to be happy. I’ve read this pos annd if I ckuld I
    want to suggest you some interesting things or tips.
    Perhaps youu could write next articles referring tto this article.
    I desire to rdad more things about it!|
    It is perfect time to make some plans for the longer term and
    it’s time to be happy. I’ve learn this publish and iif I may
    I want to suggesst you some fascinating things or advice.

    Maybe you can write subsequent articles regarding this article.
    I desire to read even more things aapproximately it!|
    I’ve been browsing on-line more thn 3 hours nowadays, but I by no means discovered any attention-grabbing article like yours.
    It’s beautiful price suffidient forr me. In my opinion, if
    all webmasters and bloggers made good content material as you proably did, the internet will bbe a lot more useful than ever before.|
    Ahaa, its good dialogue concerning this article
    here at this weblog, I have read all that, so at this
    time me also commenting here.|
    Iam sure this article has touched all the internet viewers, its really reeally fastidijous paragraph on building up
    new web site.|
    Wow, this article is good, myy younger sister
    is analyzing sudh things, so I am going to convey her.|
    Saved as a favorite, I love you web site!|
    Wayy cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you writing
    this post and the rest of the site is also very
    good.|
    Hi, I do think this is an excellent site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I
    may return once again since i have bookmarked it.

    Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich
    and continue to guide others.|
    Woah! I’m realy digging the template/theme of this blog. It’s
    simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s challenging to get that “perfect balance” between usability and visual appearance.
    I must say you have done a fantastic job with this. Additionally,
    the blog loads very quick for me on Chrome. Excellennt Blog!|
    These are actually great ideas in on the topic of blogging.
    You have touched some nice factors here. Any way
    keep up wrinting.|
    I really like what you guys are uusually uup too.
    Such clever work and reporting! Keep up the
    awesome works guys I’ve you guiys to mmy personal blogroll.|
    Howdy! Someone in my Myspace group shared this site wikth us
    so I came to check it out.I’m definitely loving the information.
    I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers!

    Fantastic blog and amazing design and style.|
    I love what you guys are usually up too. This
    type oof clever work and reporting! Keep up the amazing works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to mmy personal blogroll.|
    Hey would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re
    using? I’m planning tto staart my own blog in the near future but I’m having a tough time choosing
    between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because yopur llayout seems different
    then most blogs and I’m lokoking for something completely unique.

    P.S Sorry for getting off-topic but I had tto ask!|
    Hi there would yyou mjnd letting me know hich web host you’re utilizing?
    I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different browsers and I must say this blkog loads a
    lot faster then most. Can you recommend a good hosting provideer at a faor price?
    Kudos, I appreciate it!|
    I like it when individuas get together and share views.
    Great site, kerp it up!|
    Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It inn fact was a amusement account it.

    Look advanced to more added agreeable from you!
    However, hoow can we communicate?|
    Hi there just wanted too give you a quick heads up. Thee tewxt
    in your post sem to be running off the screen in Opera.
    I’m not sure iff this is a formatting issue or something to do with web browser compatibility but
    I figured I’d post to let you know. The design loook great
    though! Hope you geet the problem resolved soon. Maany thanks|
    This is a topic which is close to my heart… Many thanks!

    Where are your contact details though?|
    It’s very effprtless to find out any topic on web as compared to textbooks, as
    I found this post at his site.|
    Does your blog have a contact page? I’m having trouble locating it but,I’d
    like to shoot you an email. I’ve got some recommendations for yoyr blog you might be interested in hearing.
    Either way, great blog and I look forward to seeing
    iit ggrow over time.|
    Greetings! I’ve been following your website foor a
    while now and finally got the coourage to ggo ahead and give you a sshout
    out from Atascocitya Tx! Just wanted to mentiopn keep up tthe good job!|
    Greetings from California! I’m bored tto death att work so I decidedd
    tto brrowse your blog on my iphone during lunch break.
    I really like the information youu present here and
    can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m shocked at how quick your blog loaded oon my mobile ..
    I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, superb site!|
    Its like you reaad my thoughts! Youu seem to grasp a lot approximately
    this, like you wtote thhe e-book in it or something. I believe that you simply can do with a
    few p.c. to power the message home a bit, but other than that, that iss magnificent blog.
    An excellent read. I will definitely be back.|
    I visited several sites but the auudio quality for audio songs present at this site is genuinely marvelous.|
    Howdy, i read your blog from time to time and i own a similar one and i was just ondering if you get a lot oof spam responses?
    If so how doo youu prevent it, any plugin or anything
    you can recommend? I get so much lately it’s driving me insane so any support is very much appreciated.|
    Greetings! Very helpful advcice iin this pwrticular post!
    It’s the little changes that produce the most important changes.
    Thanks a lot forr sharing!|
    I seriously love your blog.. Great colors &
    theme. Diid you make this amazing site yourself? Please reply
    back as I’m looking to create my own personal blog and
    would like to know where you gott this from or what thee thgeme is called.
    Appreciate it!|
    Howdy! This blog post could not be written much better! Looking through this article reminds
    me of my previous roommate! He continually kept talking about
    this. I most certainly will send thhis article too him. Fairly certain he’ll have
    a good read. Many thanks for sharing!|
    Whoa! This blog looks just like my olld one! It’s on a completely different
    subject but it has pretty much tthe same layout and design. Excellent choice of colors!|
    There is certainly a loot tto know about this issue.
    I love all the points you made.|
    You’ve made some really good points there. I checked on the web for
    additional information about the issue and found most individuals will go
    along with your views on this web site.|
    Hi, I log on to your blig on a regular basis. Your story-telling style is
    awesome, keep up the good work!|
    I just could not ggo away your web site prior to suggesting
    that I actually enjoyed the usual information an individual ssupply oon your visitors?
    Is gonna be again often in order to investigate cross-check new
    posts|
    I wanted to thank you for tgis wonderful read!!
    I absolutely enjoyed every bit of it. I have got you book marked to look
    at new things you post…|
    Hi, just wanted to tell you, I liked this post. It
    was inspiring. Keep on posting!|
    Hello, I enjooy reading all of your article post. I like to write a little comment
    tto support you.|
    I always spent my half an hour to rewad this webpage’s articles daily along with a cupp of coffee.|
    I always emailed this blog post page to all my friends, since if like to read
    it afterward my contacts will too.|
    My programmer is trying to persuade me to move too .net from PHP.
    I have always disliked the idea becuse of thee costs.
    But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using Movable-type on a number of websites
    for about a year and am nervous about switching to another platform.
    Ihave heard good things bout blogengine.net.

    Is there a way I can transfer all my wordpress posts into it?
    Any help would be greatly appreciated!|
    Hi there! I couuld have sworn I’ve visited this blog before bbut after going through many of tthe posts I
    realized it’s new to me. Nonetheless, I’m certainly happy I
    stumbled upon it and I’ll be book-marking itt and checking back often!|
    Great work! That is thhe type of info tha should be shared around the
    web. Disgrrace on Google for now nott positioning this put up higher!
    Comme on over and seek advice from my siote .

    Thanks =)|
    Heya i’m foor the first time here. I came
    across this board aand I find It really useful & it helped me out a
    lot. I hope to give something back and aid others like you helped me.|
    Howdy, I do think your web site could be having browser
    compatibility issues. Whhenever I tske a look at your web sie in Safari, it looks
    fine however, if opening in Internet Explorer, it’s got
    some overlapping issues. I merely wanted to give yyou a quck heads
    up! Besides that, wonderful blog!|
    Someone necessarily help to make significantly articles I’d state.

    That is the first time I frequented your web page and
    up to now? I amawzed with the analysis you ade to create this actual post extraordinary.

    Excellent job!|
    Heya i am for the primary timne here. I came across this
    board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out much.
    I am hoping to offer something back and help others such as you aided me.|
    Howdy! I just wish to give you a biig thumbs up for your
    great info you have got right here on this post. I will bbe returning
    to your site for more soon.|
    I always used to study piece of writing in news papers but now
    as I am a user of web thus from now I am using net
    for posts, thanks to web.|
    Your method of explaining everything in this article is actually good, all
    be abpe to simply be aware of it, Thanks a lot.|
    Hello there, I discovered your wweb site by the use
    of Google while looking for a similar subject, your wesite came up,it appears great.
    I’ve bookmarkedd it in my google bookmarks.
    Hi there, just tturned into alert to your blog thru Google, and located that it is really informative.
    I am gonna be areful for brussels. I’ll appreciate for those who proceed this in future.
    Numerous pedople might be benefited out of your writing. Cheers!|
    I’m curious tto find out what blog platfofm you are utilizing?
    I’m experiencing some small security ptoblems with my latest site and I would like to find something
    more safe. Do you have any suggestions?|
    I am extremely impressed with your writing skills aand also with
    the layout on your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself?
    Either way keep up thhe nice quality writing, it’s rade to see a great blkg like
    this one today.|
    I am extremely impressed together with your writing
    talents and also with the format on your blog. Is that this a paid topic or did you customize it
    your self? Anyway keep uup the excellent quality writing, it iis uncommon to
    look a nice blog like this one today..|
    Hello, Neat post. There’s a problem along with your websjte in internet explorer, could test this?
    IE nonetheless is the marketplace leadwr and a good section of other folks woll pass ober your
    magnificent writing becaause of tuis problem.|
    I’m not sure were you’re getting your information, but great topic.

    I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more.
    Thanks for excellent information I was looking foor this info ffor my mission.|
    Hi, i think that i saw you visied my web site so i came to “return the favor”.I am trying to fijnd things to improve my website!I suppose its ok
    to uuse some of your \

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.




Skip to toolbar