Juan Martin Del Potro will look to build on the biggest win of his season when he takes the court against Jack Sock on Wednesday in Madrid. Gael Monfils and Pablo Cuevas are also aiming for a place in the last 16.
(PR) Juan Martin Del Potro vs. Jack Sock
Del Potro brooked a spot in the second round of the Mutua Madrid Open by upsetting No. 14 seed Dominic Thiem 7-6(5), 6-3 on Tuesday. It was the 27-year-old Argentine’s best win since defeating then-world No. 9 Richard Gasquet at the 2013 World Tour Finals. Del Potro missed much of 2014 and 2015 before beginning his latest comeback earlier this season in Delray Beach, where he advanced to the semifinals. The 2009 U.S. Open champion has now won his opening match at all five of his tournaments in 2016.
Up next for Del Potro on Wednesday is a first-ever meeting with Sock, who twice battled back from a break down in the third set to overcome Benoit Paire 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(5) in the opening round. The 26th-ranked American is a mediocre 26-7 for the year but he is coming off a runner-up performance on the clay courts of Houston. Although Sock is the favorite on paper, the quality of his match against Paire was less than encouraging–and that is putting it generously. Del Potro, on the other hand, looked the best he has all season long during his huge victory over Thiem.
Pick:Â Del Potro in 3
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Pablo Cuevas vs. (13) Gael Monfils
Monfils and Cuevas will be squaring off for the fourth time in their careers and for the second time in 2016 when they meet again on Wednesday. All three of their previous encounters have gone the way of Monfils, whose only previous clay-court contest against Cuevas resulted in a 4-6, 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory at the 2015 French Open. That match witnessed without question one of the most monumental meltdowns of the year, as Cuevas led by two sets to one and by a double-break at 4-1 in the fourth before completely collapsing. The two veterans most recently faced each other two months ago on the hard courts of Miami, where Monfils got the job done 6-3, 6-4.
Tuesday was a typical day at the office for Monfils, who picked up another win despite dealing with physical problems. The 15th-ranked Frenchman battled through an ankle injury to roll over a rusty Kevin Anderson 6-4, 6-1. Monfils is now an awesome 21-6 for his 2016 campaign, which includes a recent runner-up finish in Monte-Carlo. Cuevas improved to a stellar 17-7 for the year by outlasting Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5) in the opening round. Unless Monfils is less than 100 percent, there is no reason to think he will let Cuevas turn the tide of their head-to-head history.
Pick:Â Monfils in 2
[polldaddy poll=9406182]
who ya got?
As much as I would like to see Delpo win, I think it will be Sock in 3, even though he did not play well in his last match.
Think, given their h2h, will pick Monfils, but again in 3. Monfils has certainly moved up the rankings relatively late in his career. Am wondering if he can go higher still.
Vamos Delpo in 3!
sorry, Jack ?
LeMonf in 2
On paper it should be Sock winning this match. However, he hasn’t looked that great lately. Delpo coming off a nice win over Thiem. That should give him a nice boost heading into this match. If Sock plays his game then he could well win this match. But even a rusty Delpo can be dangerous. I see this match going 3 sets. I am going with Delpo to get the win.
The only way I can see Monfils losing to Cuevas is if the ankle is a problem. Otherwise, it should be a routine 2 set win for him.
Delpo in 3, Monfils in 3.
How is a 26 – 7 record “mediocre” while 21 – 6 is “stellar”? Inquiring minds want to know. Is Djokovic having a terrible year since he lost a match?
Gael and Juan in 3 both… Just finished watching Andy come through in 3… Monfils will be fine tomorrow
should be yep. Not too confident about Sockotro.
Monfils is about to cost me a lot of money fkkkkk
He will win
Monfils didn’t win.
That’s what you said about Herbert LOL.
Do you? Or don’t you.
The Mafia is talking to the players to rig this game now
Cuevas beat Monfils. That was s surprise, but Cuevas played very well, especially in the third set TB.
This sucks. DeL Po and Sock got moved to a non TV court so TC can’t show it of course. Dang it.
So Cuevas continues to have a good year. I’d forgotten that he has 2 titles already this season. And Sock won the 1st set over Delpo.
Although I missed Cuevas, I did predict the Sock win over Delpo. It was 6-4, 7-6.