Quarterfinal spots at the 500-point tournament in Hamburg will be at stake on Wednesday. An all-unseeded affair pits Gael Monfils against Leonardo Mayer, while No. 8 seed Fernando Verdasco is facing lucky loser Thiago Monteiro.
Gael Monfils vs. Leonardo Mayer
Monfils and Mayer will be going head-to-head for the fourth time in their careers when they meet again in round two of the German Tennis Championships on Wednesday. All three of their previous encounters have gone Monfils’ way, although two of the three have required decisive third sets. The two veterans most recently faced each other earlier this season on the red clay of Buenos Aires, where Monfils prevailed 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in what was their first showdown since 2010 at Wimbledon.
The 31-year-old Frenchman did well to win his Hamburg opener, as he took advantage of a fatigued but also red-hot Marco Cecchinato 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 on Tuesday. Ranked 37th in the world, Monfils is a decent 22-13 for his 2018 campaign and he is looking to win multiple matches at a fourth consecutive tournament. Mayer kicked off his week with a 6-3, 6-2 rout of Albert-Ramos Vinolas, and he is one victory away from owning an even record for the year (currently 16-17). The 36th-ranked Argentine had been on a three-match losing streak (two on grass, one on clay) prior to this week, so a considerable edge in current form goes to Monfils.
Pick: Monfils in 2
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(8) Fernando Verdasco vs. (LL) Thiago Monteiro
This is also a rematch between two players who most recently collided earlier this year in Buenos Aires. In the first and only showdown between these two left-handers, Verdasco got the job done against Monteiro 6-2, 7-5. The 34-year-old Spaniard is still going relatively strong at No. 33 in the world, with a 21-18 record this season that includes a hard-fought 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(5) victory over Dusan Lajovic on Tuesday. Verdasco compiled a horrendous 1-4 record on grass, but he built some confidence prior to arriving in Hamburg thanks to a semifinal showing last week in Bastad.
Monteiro fell in the final round of qualifying (beat Roberto Quiroz, lost to Jozef Kovalik) but got a lucky-loser spot in the main draw and parlayed that opportunity into 7-6(2), 6-2 defeat of Gilles Simon. Although the 24-year-old Brazilian is struggling down at 146th in the rankings, his 9-9 mark at the ATP level in 2018 is a respectable one. This will be a classic clay-court contest, but Verdasco wields superior firepower and should once again have too much game for Monteiro.
Pick: Verdasco in 3
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Fernando Verdasco to win ML.
Like Verdasco to win in 3 sets. But can win in 2 tight sets also.
Gael Monfils to win ML. If Mayer has picked up his top clay form (smashing ARV in 2 sets is a good start) then it will be a 3 setter.
Verdasco is such a frustrating player to watch. Tons of natural talent which is all too often needlessly squandered. Just watched him lose to Monteiro who by rights he should have dealt with comfortably.
Monfils in 3…he always has to go 3!….and Vco in 2.
What happened to Coric? How come he won the second set comfortably at 6-1 but then lost the third 1-6?? What’s he doing? Didn’t get to watch the match; he’s losing matches bizarrely lately, strange!