The Grandstand’s Ricky Dimon and Steen Kirby of Tennis East Coast preview and pick four of the best men’s singles matches on Tuesday at Roland Garros. Among those in action are seeds Richard Gasquet and Grigor Dimitrov.
(12) Richard Gasquet vs. Bernard Tomic
Ricky: Gasquet leads the head-to-head series 3-1, but Tomic won their most memorable encounter 7-6(7), 5-7, 7-5, 7-6(5) last year at Wimbledon. That’s not going to happen again–unless Gasquet is still dealing with a back injury, which is very possible. If the Frenchman is healthy, this will be one-way traffic. Tomic has not won a match since Sydney, a stretch that includes his legendary, record-setting 28-minute loss to Jarkko Nieminen in Miami. Of course, Gasquet has not even played a match since Miami. Gasquet 7-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-0.
Steen: Expectations have to be low for this one to some extent given Gasquet hasn’t played a clay-court tournament all year because of a back injury and Tomic is both weaker on clay and without that much match practice back from the abductor injury he sustained at the Aussie Open. Gasquet will have the crowd on his side and is naturally better on clay, thus once he can work his way into his tennis, I think he wins this one in four sets. Gasquet 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-1.
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(32) Andreas Seppi vs. Santiago Giraldo
Ricky: Seppi is no stranger to five-set matches and this particular matchup–at least on paper–has five sets written all over it. It pits the 32nd and final seed against an opponent who missed being seeded by one ranking spot. It also features two players who are skilled on the slow stuff. Unfortunately for Seppi, Giraldo has a decided edge in current form. The Colombian was hands down one of the most consistent performers during the clay-court swing heading into Roland Garros. He has way more confidence than Seppi at the moment. Giraldo 6-2, 7-5, 3-6, 6-2.
Steen: In what could be the best match of the day, Giraldo is a hot commodity right now and has had some great results recently working with Fernando Gonzalez as his coach. Seppi, meanwhile, has struggled all season but he’s a veteran who plays well on clay and can compete when called upon and at least keep things competitive against superior opponents. Giraldo will play much more aggressive and that could result in an easy straight-set win or a real battle if he starts misfiring. He retired in his last match, but if healthy I like Giraldo in four sets. Giraldo 7-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
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Lleyton Hewitt vs. Carlos Berlocq
Ricky: This is the one that’s going five. Book it. Just about everything favors Berlocq, who is more adept on clay than Hewitt and is in far better form (the Argentine won a clay-court title in Oeiras a few weeks ago). Hewitt’s determination, although well-documented, is something that cannot be measured. But it will be a factor. The 33-year-old Aussie has played five-setters in three of his last four and four of his last six Grand Slams. Count on another extremely entertaining and hard-fought contest. Berlocq 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.
Steen: Berlocq is better on clay than Hewitt and Hewitt has been struggling–losing three straight. The Aussie, however, always tries his hardest to compete in the slams and he’s feisty. Expect a grinding battle in this one, as both players will try to wear down each other’s wall. It’s hard to predict what form Hewitt can conjure, but unless Berlocq really chokes I like him in four sets. Berlocq 7-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2.
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(11) Grigor Dimitrov vs. Ivo Karlovic
Ricky: They just played each other in Rome (Dimitrov won in straights) and have squared off twice in their careers. Previous encounters involving Karlovic generally help the opponent more than they help the 6’11” Croat. Dimitrov has seen the serve before and knows how to deal with it. He is also, of course, the superior player and way better athlete. The in-form Bulgarian will eventually break down the big man over a best-of-five match on clay, but it won’t be routine. It never is with Karlovic. Dimitrov 6-4, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4.
Steen: Dimitrov just beat Karlovic in Rome and he seems to be playing well right now. With the Dusseldorf finalist probably worn out going in, I don’t see this being that much of a match. I’ll go with Dimitrov to hold his serve the entire way and dispatch Karlovic in straights. Dimitrov 6-4, 7-6, 6-4.
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Agree with picks………..
Ivo Karlovic won the first set against Grigor Dimitrov 6-4,
Ricky had Dimitrov in 3 in his tournament picks but he has Dimitrov in 4 in this preview. DO YOU?
great point!
VR, Ricky doesn’t read his blogs lol.
Karlovic leads Dimitrov by 2 sets to 0.
wow, Ivo seems determined to indulge Grigor with a lot of free time during this RG so that he could focus on watching his girlfriend Maria play…oh wait: is it Bouchard now?! Sorry Grigor…you can’t have your love life that complicated and still play supreme tennis…tccc… one thing at the time, or one GIRL at the time… 🙂
RT @jon_wertheim: “Ivo Karlovic (age 35) now up 2-0 on Dimitrov…”
Because……….
Ivo Karlovic won the match!!!
Ivo is in form these days
Then why did you pick Dimi, just because he beat him in Rome?
Ivo looked scary good out there today. However, as BG said, BabyFed refused to back up to give himself more time on ROS.
formatting fixed on this article….
Haas out (retired).
Haas out
Really?
Haas
out
Giraldo out. Ricky batting .500 today.
#CoinToss
Tank engine out.
Hohohoho! This RG is heating up nicely…….
what happened
THAT was awesome. Heating up indeed!
Sock 5-0 over Almagro
Almagro retired
Elvis is out??!!!
This is beyond heating up, it’s a bloody furnace out there! Love it………..
Sock through
RT @SI_BTBaseline : “Rafael Nadal’s French Open draw is parting like the sea. And we’re not even through the first round. #RG14”
#Karma
#Baitch
https://twitter.com/rolandgarros/status/471262852100415488
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu10CgX0USw#t=34
https://twitter.com/ESPNTennis/status/471262546042040320
Billy Joel was very underrated. Yes the 80s weren’t good for him artistically but most fell into that trap for sure, no?
Everybody was talking about how Rafa could have to play those that had figured out his game and beat him (or came close) this year but one by one they are proving it had little to do with them.
Nishi, Mugro, Coleslaw.
Everybody talkin’bout the new sound funny but it’s still rock’n’roll to me.
rock’n’roll being Rafa and new sound funny being Dimi, Kei, Coleslas, Mugro and their ilk for those that missed the symbolism.
Why did Elvis and Stan The Fluke have to retire before Rafa gets hold of them? Haas also retired.
https://twitter.com/BenRothenberg/status/471285661090451457
RT @dougrobson: “Dimitrov mentions some personal issues he’s been dealing with past couple days bt declines to elaborate…#rg14”
excuses, excuses…………………
Did Shazza dump him? Rafa’s draw is def working in his favor.
#DavydenkoStrategy
^^^Ohhhh, you’re even more evil than me, @chloro!!
evil? strong word that 🙂
I am not the one who tanked a match for posterity 🙂
I just state the ‘facts’
#FactsNo?
You’re right, word fits Davy to a t……..
#EvilGenius
It looks really cold out there today.
https://twitter.com/bbctennis/status/471256013606518784/photo/1
You have to learn to pace yourself
Pressure
You’re just like everybody else
Pressure
You’ve only had to run so far
So good
But you will come to a place
Where the only thing you feel
Are loaded guns in your face
And you’ll have to deal with
PRESSURE!!!
Federico Delbonis (ATP-34), who crushed Fed in Hamburg (clay) last year, was sent packing by Dusan Lajovic (ATP-83).
couldn’t recover from the 4 drop-shots Gulbis hit against him
LOL
Is Andy injured? He keeps limping.
RT @linzsports: “Maybe Li Na should change her name back to Stanislas too. #worthashot”
https://twitter.com/ESPNTennis/status/471306420185362432
#NotSoonEnough
#BanRacism
How Andy plays against everyone else is totally different to how he plays against Rafa, Djoko or Fed.
He’s doing his ‘it’s all too much effort’ routine. Now he’s dropped a set so will have to stay out there even longer. He was even smiling when Golubev had BP against him and he dropped his serve.
So handbag dimi, Elvis, haas, and coleslaw are all gone? And now Li? And Delbonis! Now that he was a threat…but still surprising.
https://twitter.com/tennisabstract/status/471309172488040448
#FrenchFried
They beat Rafa to it. Rafa needs to win RG twice more (perhaps once more soon) to join the other 10 club. And they have Rafa beat comprehensively at their own club: Rafa still needs 10 there. Sla only 9.
Uhmmm….too much information?? Next episode, Annacone tells the world about Sloane’s struggles with yellow, fuzzy balls………
https://twitter.com/bbctennis/status/471308600313659392/photo/1
Shhhh…….don’t tell Sloane Stephens they do not have Wi-Fi on Lenglen:
RT @NeilHarmanTimes : “Lack of wifi on Court No.2 a real frustration. Tried hard to get phone working to no avail.”
Ok that’s a little mean. Do we nee
Sorry…hit post too soon. But Sloane really lacks self-awareness. She’s not winning any fans with that type of comment.
That comment of Sloane’s about Annacone tells you all you need to know about the dynamics in that coaching relationship, and why she is going nowhere with her game.
RT @Mike_Dickson_DM: “Murray’s serve has really gone down the gurgler here, and as a result he’s trailing 5-2 in the third set.”
Muzza’s 2nd serve % in 3rd set, 31%. Golubev takes the 3rd set 6/3….
^^1st serve %………..
https://twitter.com/BenRothenberg/status/471319159947919360
#NotClassy
Yeah, Llodra took a Medical Time Out at 2 sets down and 5-6 40:40 in the third set. I didn’t hear any legionaries of the Federazzi booing!!!
https://twitter.com/augustazeight/status/471328918830841856/photo/1
After the MTO, Llodra won 2 points and the game. But, he lost the tiebreak.
https://twitter.com/augustazeight/status/471328975508471808/photo/1
BREAKING NEWS!!!
Guillermo GarcĂa-LĂłpez to change his name to Billy.
^^and Ferrer wants to be known as “Dave.”
Dave! hahahahahaha
In an effort to increase his brand recognition, Novak is only responding to Ned.
Other notable name changes…
Tom.Berdych.
Bill Tsonga
Rick Gasquet.
Mike Youzhny
Felix Lopez
Miles.Raonic
Roger Dimitrov
Fabulous Fognini
Adolf Llodra
Rafa only responding to Nat. (for some pronounced as Nad)
Roger will be known as “Dad.”
and Ernests will now go by Ernest
So when order is restored at the top we will have: Nat (Nad), Ned, And and Dad.
(Andy will oblige to help with a consistent 3 letter branding of the top 4.
Nad-Ned finals will be a bit confusing when you hear “Jeu N_d”
To paraphrase Federer:
There’s no way Murray can lose to someone wearing such a hideous outfit………………..
Golubev reminds me of Berdych. He’s got a good game but makes too many errors.
LLodra out. Verdasco to change is name to just ‘Chinese’.
#GoodRiddance
#NoHitWonder
or to ‘Non French’
^^ hawkeye: If you haven’t seen Ricky’s new Facebook chat post yet, take a look. You’ll love Llodra’s avatar.
Well played Dimon. Well played.
Impressed that jpacnw got it
#nice
I didn’t recognize the portly gent. Name?
chloro: It’s Donald Sterling.
this
So. If Fed had landed in Rafa’s half, Rafa would be on tomorrow instead of Thursday? I mean, Fed determines the scheduling, right?
Indeed. Fed is, after all, the GxOAT.
GxOAT: Greatest x Of All (male) Tennis players.
What is x you ask?
You fill it in. Different people put different things there. To each their own.
Did I hear that right? Fabrice Santoro as a potential coach for Murray?
no way
On court interview with Murray.
Jeu Nadal@May 27, 2014 at 4:25 pm
People who are spreading this “information” didn’t understand properly
https://twitter.com/adel1609/statuses/471324317104762881
Thanks — saw the same tweet after I posted my question. I only caught the end of Stubbs’ interview so couldn’t tell if it was in jest or not.
So I came here to see that there are players losing all over the place! What is up with this tournament?
https://twitter.com/rogerfederer/status/471311942163111936
Given his first few rounds, why wouldn’t he be?
#AllezMikeBradyWannaBe
Tiggy Says:
Li Na and Grigor Dimitrov kicked things off by following yesterday’s surprise victim, Stan Wawrinka, through the exit door. But to have a true day of upsets, you need players who can actually be upset to be in action.
Snap Tiggy! Hilarious burn on STAN(wonh)ISLAS(tslam)!
#Ouch
#TellUsHowYouReallyFeel
https://twitter.com/newscomauHQ/status/471489744212205568/photo/1
Because………….