Milos Raonic and Gael Monfils will be facing each other in the quarterfinals of a big event for the second time this season on Thursday in Indian Wells. Marin Cilic and David Goffin are also aiming for a spot in the semis.
(12) Milos Raonic vs. (13) Gael Monfils
Raonic and Monfils will be squaring off for the fourth time in their careers when they clash in the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday. Monfils is leading the head-to-head series 2-1, but it is all tied up at 1-1 on hard courts and Raonic won their most recent encounter 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the Australian Open quarters. The Frenchman’s victories came indoors in Stockholm five years ago (6-7(6), 6-4, 6-3) and on the grass courts of Halle in 2013 (6-4, 6-2).
It has already been a productive fortnight in the desert for both men, but Raonic’s results are especially encouraging given that he was a proverbial question mark heading into the event. Sidelined by an adductor injury, the 14th-ranked Canadian had not played since a five-set semifinal loss to Andy Murray at the Australian Open. So far in Indian Wells he has taken out Inigo Cervantes, Bernard Tomic, and Tomas Berdych without dropping a set. Monfils punched his ticket to the last eight with defeats of Pablo Carreno Busta, Albert Ramos-Vinolas, and Federico Delbonis. The No. 13 seed is a stellar 12-3 on the season. In what should be a high-quality affair, Raonic’s superior ability to win free points on serve should be the difference in pressure situations.
Pick: Raonic in 2
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(10) Marin Cilic vs. (15) David Goffin
Nobody–at least nobody still left in the tournament, as Alexander Zverev would otherwise have a shot at this distinction–has endured more of a roller-coaster ride through the Indian Wells draw than Goffin. The 18th-ranked Belgian was one point away–twice–from losing his first match to Frances Tiafoe, but he fought off both of the match points en route to a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(2) victory. Goffin then recovered from a set deficit yet again to beat Guido Pella 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. That set the stage for a wild one against Stan Wawrinka on Wednesday, in which the underdog blew all of a set and 4-0 lead in the second, failed to serve out the match at 5-3 in the second and 5-4 in the third, and finally prevailed 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(5) after Wawrinka botched an easy smash at 5-5 in the decisive tiebreaker.
Up next for Goffin is a second career meeting with Cilic. They just faced each other for the first time earlier this month in Davis Cup action, with Goffin benefiting from home-court advantage to get the job done against the 12th-ranked Croat 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 on clay. That setback dropped Cilic to a dreadful 9-7 for his 2016 campaign, but from out of nowhere he is fine form in the desert. The No. 10 seed took care of Ryan Harrison and Leonardo Mayer in straight sets before scraping past Richard Gasquet 7-5, 5-7, 6-2. This surface will suit Cilic better than clay, but he would still much prefer to battle Goffin on something like a fast indoor hard court.
Pick: Goffin in 3
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who ya got?
I think Marin in straights here… I highly doubt David has much left in the tank at all…
Raonic in 3. Been impressed by him this week. Looks fresh and hungry too
Raonic and Cilic in three
Milos in 2
Cilic in 3
Thanks for sharing this! Very exciting matches coming. I’m thinking Raonic and Cilic.
nope, get on the Goffin bandwagon
Ha, ha. Me too.
Goffin in 3
But I’m going for Raonic in 3. It’s difficult to 2nd guess where Monfils is concerned but I’m plumping for him to take a set if only to keep the crowd amused.
Arrgh…David falls down and to add insult, Marin gets the break back. ? very bad luck.
Goffin takes the TB!!!
Why I’m on the Goffin bandwagon win or lose:
http://www.flashscore.com/match/hKAnkGl0/#point-by-point;1
Set ONE heroic effort by Goffin saving and converting BP’s.
Cilic Goffin
7 Aces 3
0 Double Faults 5
52% 1st Serve Percentage 64%
76% (19/25) 1st Serve Points Won 73% (32/44)
52% (12/23) 2nd Serve Points Won 48% (12/25)
0% (0/1) Break Points Saved 92% (11/12)
Return
27% (12/44) 1st Return Points Won 24% (6/25)
32% (8/25) 2nd Return Points Won 48% (11/23)
8% (1/12) Break Points Converted 100% (1/1)
Points
5 Max Points In Row 4
65% (31/48) Service Points Won 64% (44/69)
36% (25/69) Return Points Won 35% (17/48)
48% (56/117) Total Points Won 52% (61/117)
Games
2 Max Games In Row 3
86% (6/7) Service Games Won 88% (7/8)
13% (1/8) Return Games Won 14% (1/7)
47% (7/15) Total Games Won 53% (8/15)
flashscore!
Match point,??? Goffin!
And the match in straight sets. Wowee.
A few brave people voted in the poll for Goffin in two. 13 to be exact 🙂 The majority had Cilic in three in spite of the fact he has never got past the QF at a masters event. The aura of a being a GS winner at workI suppose.
Goffin in the SFs. Nostradimonus!!!!!!
Nostra received congratulations from the Grandstand. 🙂
https://twitter.com/TennGrand/status/710591784167084032
He’s never been past a 1000 QF? Dang how’d he win the U.S. Open.
You may well ask Benny!!
The stars were aligned for him that fortnight. The rest of the 14 titles he has won, 13 of them came at 250 tournaments, He has also failed to win a single title in the three 500 level finals he contested.
Huge win for Goffin!!