Top seed and 2016 runner-up Andy Murray will continue his French Open campaign against Martin Klizan on Thursday. The second day of second-round action also includes what could be a competitive contest between Juan Martin Del Potro and Nicolas Almagro.
(1) Andy Murray vs. Martin Klizan
Murray and Klizan will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers when they collide in round two of the French Open on Thursday. Their only previous encounter came last fall in Vienna, where Murray survived 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-0. The mercurial Klizan is no stranger to such roller-coaster rides and he endured another one on Tuesday at Roland Garros, where he controversially got the best of wild card Laurent Lokoli 7-6(4), 6-3, 4-6, 0-6, 6-4. Lokoli offered no handshake following what was Klizan’s fifth victory in his last three clay-court tournaments. The 50th-ranked Slovak is a mediocre 11-13 in 2017 but has at least managed to heat up somewhat since starting 1-4.
Murray’s opener featured a less significant mid-match wobble, as the world No. 1 eventually coasted past Andrey Kuznetsov 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, 6-0. The last two sets and certainly the overall victory were much-needed, and not just because Murray is defending 2016 runner-up points. This season has been a mighty struggle for the Scot, who is a mere 17-7 and an even 5-5 in his last 10 matches since capturing the Dubai title back in February. In his last two outings combined against Borna Coric and Fabio Fognini heading into the French Open, Murray took a total of 12 games–and lost 24 in his two straight-set losses. Clay gives Klizan a real chances of extending the top seed’s woes; perhaps even more than a chance.
Pick: Klizan in 5
[polldaddy poll=9758592]
Nicolas Almagro vs. (29) Juan Martin Del Potro
Neither a lack of form nor injuries have been problems for Del Potro in 2017, but his season has been an abbreviated one due to precautionary rest and the recent death of his grandfather. Tough early-round draws have also put a dent in the Argentine’s progress, as he is ranked lower (30th) than his current level would suggest. That being said, Del Potro is a solid 12-6 on the year and he delivered a stellar performance from start to finish in disposing of countryman Guido Pella 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 on Tuesday.
Up next for the 2009 U.S. Open champion is a fourth career ATP-level showdown against Almagro, who is a hopeless 0-3 in the head-to-head series and 0-6 in total sets. Del Potro picked up a pair of victories in 2013 and most recently prevailed 6-4, 6-3 at the indoor tournament in Stockholm last fall. Almagro evened his 2017 record at 9-9 when he defeated Marcos Baghdatis 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(1) during first-round action at Roland Garros. The 69th-ranked Spaniard is always a force on clay, but nothing about his current form suggests he is ready to reverse the trend of his past failures against Del Potro.
Pick: Del Potro in 3
[polldaddy poll=9758395]
come at me
? no way! Murray may have it the hard way but he will win!! Andy in 4 or 5!
Delpo in 4
The “in 5” is a tell.
I was 4-1 in picks I had different from Ricky in the first round.
The Murray match will make it 5-1.
Murray FTW.
#MurrayIsNotBack
#Big3AreBack
HAHA freaking love it. Come at me lmao
No! Murray WILL beat Klizan. Come on Andy!
Delpo in 4, I think.
Wow! Ricky thinks Klizan will beat Andy! I think Andy will win in four sets.
I think Delpo will get the win in 3 or 4 sets.
They are not showing Rafa’s match yet. Still showing Novak.
Novak struggling to hold here. Rafa already up a break.
Novak holds. One game away.
Andy in 4, Delpo in 3
Truly an “awful” pick by Ricky.
Klizan is a 10:1 underdog LOL.
#MurrayIsNotBack
Very Bold Ricky pick
let’s see if it pays off
Del Potro in 4, Murray in 4
With the way Nadal is playing he could beat anybody
Klizan in 5????? Tenngrand must be having a laugh! Andy has upped his game with his 1st round match win and even though Klizan could be tough I really don’t see him beating Andy over the best of five sets. The longer the match goes, the more it favours Andy, I’m going with Andy in four sets.
I think Ricky wanted to have some fun!
Murray for the win!
Does Ricky know something we don’t know?
Murray and DelPo in 4.
Almagro wins in 5 sets
With 81 unforced against a much weaker opponent, I am 90% sure that Klizan will lose in 3 vs. Andy who, as someone wrote above, increased his level, got back in shape with the 1st match.
The above pick + 3-0 Monfils, handicap+ Lorenzi, at least 1 set Chardy my ticket 🙂 Inspiration to all!
ricky definitely smoking something there. as poor as andy has been… best of 5 he will pull through… surely he cant get worse
delpo in 4… too solid
Klizan could win but no way he wins a 5th set against Murray, too unstable mentally
not if he wins the fourth also….
Oh yeah if Klizan wins the fourth with his game he can use momentum to full advantage and replicate that set nando played against Rafa in the Aus open 2016 where he was just plastering winners the whole time.
Murray isn’t that clutch but it’s true that Klizan is even less clutch.
Klizan is hilarious but at same time an asshole so I don’t know whether to like him. I remember his antics throughout Rotterdam last year were both hilarious and jerky. I didn’t like it when he did it against Mahut cuz I really wanted Mahut to win that one lol. He is definitely a character that’s for sure. He was pretty out of hand vs Lokoli in fact that whole match was just wild. I think he is capable of winning but I don’t really think he will.
I have a very soft spot for Mahut, too, mainly for sentimental reasons, though. He seemed to be quite the specialist for heartbreaking losses. Jon Wertheim once wrote that someone needed to have a long talk about Mahut with the tennis deities. His career changed when he teamed up with Herbert, and I’m glad that he will be remembered for more than having lost the longest match in the history of tennis.
Agreed. Glad he’s come into his own. And yeah he doesn’t even serve and volley too much I also like him for those sentimental reasons. So great to see him playing so well at this age after a career that was originally defined by that loss to Isner. I don’t even think about his loss to Isner when I see him playing.
There wasn’t just the loss to Isner. There were a few other heartbreaking losses. He was absolutely unconsolable after he lost with his former partner the FO Doubles final in an extremely tight match against the Brian Brothers a couple of years ago. That’s when Jon Wertheim suggested a stern talk with the responsible higher authorities 😉 And it worked. Two weeks later Mahut won his first ATP tournament on grass. And as we know now, better things were in store for him. Yes, rooting for him is sentimental. But his achievements so late in his career with Herbert, whom I like very much, too, is quite remarkable.
Murray and Del Po in four setters
Klizan will get a early start then Murray up his level. Klizan gets frustrated and break racquets. Ref gives Murray a point for penalty and klizan melts down hard and loses last set 6.0
won’t the french crowd be against klizan because of his previous match?
There is a large contingent of Eastern European supporters at RG who’ll be routing for Klizan and goading Murray
Rooting NOT routing
Murray and Del Potro should both win. Del potro may have a tougher one .. http://www.138mph.com/murrays-recap-del-potros-prediction-nicks-clay-affair-maximes-ban-and-kontas-debacle/