The Grandstand’s Ricky Dimon and Jared Pine of the Second Serb preview and pick four of the best men’s singles matches on Wednesday at Roland Garros. Among those in second-round action are seeds Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Mikhail Youzhny.
(13) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. Jurgen Melzer
Ricky: Tsonga is 3-0 lifetime against Melzer and their most recent meeting and only previous clay-court match was the most routine, with the Frenchman dominating 6-3, 6-0 last season in Monte-Carlo. This one will not be so straightforward, as Tsonga has been playing dismal tennis this season and Melzer has returned nicely from a shoulder injury. As such, this definitely has upset potential…but it’s hard to overlook Tsonga’s clinical straight-set win over a tough customer in Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Melzer’s recent 6-1, 6-1 loss to Jiri Vesely in Dusseldorf. Tsonga 6-3, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6.
Jared: A lot has been made of Tsonga’s slump in 2014, but on opening day at Roland Garros the Frenchman proved once again that he is always at his best at his home slam with a straight-set victory over countryman ERV. Tsonga is 17-6 at RG, including a quarterfinal and semifinal the last two seasons. Melzer has only played clay-court events this year in his return from injury, but he posted several impressive wins the last two weeks in Rome and Dusseldorf. The Austrian is the only player who could trouble Tsonga before the crowd favorite’s highly-anticipated fourth-rounder against Novak Djokovic. However, I expect Tsonga to improve his winning streak to four over Melzer. Tsonga 6-3, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2.
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(15) Mikhail Youzhny vs. Radek Stepanek
Ricky: Each of their previous best-of-five matches has gone the distance (Youzhny has won both; a Davis Cup encounter in 2003 and at Wimbledon in in 2008). Overall, their last three showdowns have gone the distance–including most recently on the clay courts of Munich last season. Both veterans are coming off comebacks from two sets down in the first round, so why not another five-set encore? Youzhny’s win was perhaps more encouraging, at the expense of Pablo Carreno Busta (Stepanek beat Facundo Arguello). The Russian also took a set off Rafael Nadal in Rome. Youzhny 6-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Jared: It has been a tough year for Youzhny in 2014. Russia’s No. 1 player has collected just one victory over a top 50 player this year and was on the brink of elimination in the first round, trailing by two sets to his to his unseeded opponent. However, Youzhny will face a familiar adversary in the second round in Stepanek, whom he has beat in four of their seven meetings–including two five-set matches. The Czech got the better of Youzhny in their most recent meeting on the clay of Munich. This is Stepanek’s chance to get revenge in a big tournament from their Davis Cup rubber 11 years ago. Stepanek 5-7, 6-2, 7-6, 6-4.
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Jarkko Nieminen vs. (22) Jerzy Janowicz
Ricky: Mired in a slump rivaling that of Vasek Pospisil, Janowicz had not won a match since Rotterdam in February when he beat Victor Estrella Burgos in the first round on Sunday. While any win is a good one for Janowicz these days, it’s hardly reason to get excited. The Pole is still in disastrous form and he would much rather be facing Nieminen on grass or a fast hard court. Nieminen has a new lease on life after coming back from two sets to one down against Michal Przysiezny in his tournament opener. Nieminen 6-3, 7-6, 6-2.
Jared: It has been a dreadful season for Janowicz, who has won less than half the matches in which he has played. It won’t get easier for his second-round encounter with Nieminen. As a left-hander, the Finn represents the worst possible matchup for Janowicz. The Pole has won just three of 13 matches against left-handers on the tour level, largely because his second serve isn’t as effective against them. In his last match against a southpaw, Janowicz won just 39 percent of second serve points and double-faulted five times in 11 service games in the loss. Compare that to his first full year on tour, when he won 57 percent of second-serve points overall and double-faulted just once every four games. Nieminen is going to be able to break the Janowicz serve too many times in this match. Nieminen 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.
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Robin Haase vs. Martin Klizan
Ricky: Both players are fresh off straight-set blowouts in the first round. Klizan’s was by far the more impress scalp–a beatdown of Kei Nishikori. Haase took care of an over-the-hill Nikolay Davydenko. Nishikori was not 100 percent, but give credit where credit is due. Klizan played great. Haase leads this head-to-head series 2-1, but the Slovak won their most recent meeting 7-5, 6-1 last year on the clay courts of Casablanca. Although each of Haase’s two ATP titles has come on the slow stuff, I think Klizan’s style of play is better suited to the surface. Klizan 7-5, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Jared: Klizan may have benefited from Nishikori’s injury, but the Slovak maintained a high standard of tennis in the first set. Just a month ago, he won his first clay-court title–doing so as a qualifier. Meanwhile, Haase was the recent victim of a rout by Nieminen, a left-hander with a similar playing style as Klizan. The 24-year old southpaw won the last meeting between these two amidst a slumping 2013 season. This just isn’t a good matchup for Haase. Klizan 7-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.
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Tsonga;
Youzhny;
Nieminen;
Klizan
Meldza;
Fishface;
HowManyTimes;
RobbyHass
Ricky, did you just do a Day 4 pick and leave out a RBA/Paire pick, DO YOU???
#MatchOfTheDay
Ditto yesterday. Andy’s match against Golubev was ignored. Okay it didn’t rate MOTD status but nevertheless ……………………
#DiscriminationOrOversight?
I like the picks.
I am going with Tsonga in four sets over Melzer.
Youzhny over Stepanek (Fish Lips) in four sets.
Niemenin in three sets over JJ.
Klizan in four sets over Haase.
Tsonga in 5
Youhzny in 5
Niemenin in 4
Klizan in 3
Chardyis sounds already beaten before even setting foot on court…………
https://twitter.com/jimchardy/status/471554558939127808/photo/1
rafaisthebest (at 8:56 pm),
What are you talking about ???
Google translates THIS tweet:
Jeremy Chardy@ jimchardy
“On the road to Roland! Today I count on you to help me, at RG everything is possible! I believe!”
Good morning to you too, @augusta08!
This is what I am talking about: tennis is an individual game (at least last time I checked). Asking for people to “help him” sounds defeatist, TO ME, at least.
Hope this helps.
…I just read Chardy’s tweet again, “I believe!” Complete with exclamation mark? DO YOU??
He’s quacking in his boots alright……….
#MyTake
rafaisthebest (at 8:56 pm)
Secondly, Chardy’s match is in another article.
@augusta08, this is not the first time a poster has committed the “crime” of posting on the “wrong” thread, so relax will you? Jeez……………..
The experienced guys, knowing the outcome is NID, can only pray ‘this is the day when hope might just triumph over experience’. Different for the talented youngsters with have unbridled optimism who think ‘why not?’ and play accordingly.
Looks like it’s bedlam out there already!
Gulbis and Simon on track to take the first sets, RBA going toe-to-toe with Paire, Gulbis take the 1st set as I write this……………Steps bagels Youzhny in the 2st set????Dolgo breadsticks Granollers…..holy molly!!
“RBA going toe-to-toe with Paire”
LMAO
It’s not quite 3 am where I live. Just getting up now and taking a look at the scores. Holy cow.
^^Now that’s what I call being a tennis buff! Well done @jpacnw. I must confess I will only get up at such an un-Godly hour to watch a Rafa match……….
Chapeau!
^^It’s one of the advantages of being retired, ritb. I can nap later.
RBA takes the 1st set, 6/4..
Vamos!
I am only following live scores but Fishface, looks like he’s on a mission………….
Dolgopolov totally schooling Granollers…….
Expected Granollers to put up more resistance than this…..
At the moment, Tennis Channel is just showing Chatrier, but ESPN3, for those who have access to it, is showing all the matches on every court that has TV cameras. Thought Youzhny was going to hit himself in the head with his racquet again, a few minutes ago. He’s obviously displeased with how things are going.
@jpacnw,
Thanks for the info about ESPN3. I always forget about that option for some reason!
^^ NNY7: ESPN3 replays them later, too. I was getting whiplash trying to go back and forth among all of the courts. I had the Tennis Channel on my TV and then did a split screen on my laptop. Even thought about using my second laptop, but I was having trouble following everything as it was and missing too many good shots trying to watch everything. But if there’s a particular match that you want to watch later, then ESPN3 should have it on its replay function. I’m not sure how long they keep the matches available.
Paire breaks in the 2nd set…………a long way to Amarillo, baby!!
@jpacnw,
Thanks so much for that info about the replays on ESPN3. I didn’t know that they replay the matches later. I can totally see you getting whiplash with trying to watch the tennis channel coverage on tv and then split screens on your laptop! Crazy! 🙂
Dolgo 2 sets to love up on Granollers. This one will be over soon…………
RT @darren_cahill: “3 breaks on the trot as Simon goes up a break on Gonzalez 4/3. Looks like he’s borrowed Gonzo’s forehand the last 3 weeks. Cracking it.”
Hope he carries that form into a potential meeting with the Djoker!
RT @PatrickMcEnroe : “Paired and Bautista Agut a very good one on court 1”
Knew it would be!
Just tuned in. Dont know which match to watch!
Is it the bloody weather responsible for the carnage?
^^Whatever it is, I’m having it! Am ready to forgive Rolly-G for the Rafa-slight if this is what they are serving for game!
RT @darren_cahill : “Gonzalez has got the jelly legs look. The colliwobbles. The BG stagger after 6 oil cans. Simon has run him into the ground. 6/4 5/0.”
2nd set bagel served by Gillou. Is he REALLY back??
I do hope so 🙂
Gillou already a break up in the 3rd. He wants out of there………..fast!