Nick Kyrgios will try to keep his Marseille run going when he takes the court on Saturday against Tomas Berdych. Semifinal action is also featuring Marin Cilic and Benoit Paire.
Nick Kyrgios vs. (2) Tomas Berdych
Berdych and Kyrgios will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers and for the second time this year when they battle for place in the Open 13 title match on Saturday. They just faced each other in the third round of the Australian Open, where Berdych prevailed 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. It was one of those days where Kyrgios was just about out of it mentally, but the 20-year-old Aussie appears to be back in business with much less pressure–and less expectations–in Marseille. But a lot will be expected of Kyrgios this weekend thanks to his current run, which features straight-set beatdowns of Vasek Pospisil, Teymuraz Gabashvili, and Richard Gasquet. The world No. 41 was especially impressive against Gasquet, whom he fired 17 aces past without double-faulting in a match that lasted 59 minutes.
Since earning a first-round bye as the No. 2 seed, Berdych has taken out Alexander Zverev and David Goffin. The eighth-ranked Czech survived a red-hot Zverev 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 before scoring a more comfortable 6-3, 6-4 win over Goffin. For the most part Berdych has been mediocre this season. He benefited from a favorable draw to reach the Doha semis, needed five sets to get past Roberto Bautista Agut in the last 16 in Melbourne, and got crushed by Roger Federer in the quarters. It will not help that he has to face a confident Kyrgios on Saturday. And a confident Kyrgios is a scary Kyrgios.
Pick: Kyrgios in 3
[polldaddy poll=9316947]
(8) Benoit Paire vs. (4) Marin Cilic
Cilic and Paire will be squaring off for just the second time in their careers on Saturday. Their only previous meeting came three years ago in Chennai, where Paire pulled off a 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 upset. This has been nothing short of a bizarre season so far for Paire, although there may be no such thing given that bizarre is pretty much the norm when it comes to the Frenchman. He played well to make a return trip to the Chennai semis, suffered awful losses right away in Melbourne (to Noah Rubin), Montpellier (to Paul-Henri Mathieu), and Rotterdam (to Ivan Dodig), and is suddenly back in another semifinal following a 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 defeat of Wawrinka. Paire preceded that huge victory by beating Simone Bolelli in straight sets and Vincent Millot in three.
Perhaps in even greater need of a successful week, Cilic has advanced with victories at the expense of Robin Haase (4-6, 6-3, 7-5) and Andrey Kuznetsov (6-3, 6-4). The 12th-ranked had been a disappointing 5-4 for his 2016 campaign heading into this week and most recently fell to Philipp Kohlschreiber in the Rotterdam quarters. Against Kuznetsov, however, Cilic cracked 10 aces without double-faulting and did not face a single break point. It goes without saying that the 2014 U.S. Open champion is far more likely than Paire to turn in a two consecutive outstanding performances.
Pick: Cilic in 2
[polldaddy poll=9316946]
Cilic serving for the match.
That was a far better match than the WTA which has just delivered a travesty for a final.
Admire Errani though for her courage and stamina.
She would’ve won the doubles too if CSN hadn’t been so awful.
Marin wins. When he’s serving well he’s tough to beat. Hope he can produce some good tennis in the final as well.
Marin is hard to beat when he’s serving well,it’s true. In 2014, winning US Open, he was doing everything well. He has a ways to go. I don’t think he’d beat an in-form Nole with what I watched today. Halfa Paire wouldn’t have won a set!
Double-header. Hope my advil kicks in. Kyrgios – Berdych match.
I really wanted to watch Berdy-Kyrgios, but I have to go out. I will just record it.
Good win for Cilic who hasn’t quite been able to find the form he had when he won the USO.
Don’t go out! 😉
rc,
I am following it on my phone!
😀 French fans firing up the band for Nicky, Nicky…
jeu, Kyrgios. haha the trumpet solo and allez. Nick’s gotta love that. Nick has a bp. He breaks! 3-2
Nick wins the first. VAMOS!!
Wow! Krygios is doing it!
He did it for a set! He has a bp now. He got it. Let’s see if he can hold serve. 3-2.
Nick will have to bring it like yesterday to get another set. Mr. Consistent top ten isn’t going down easy to the Kid. That’s probably another reason I don’t cheer for Tomas. He’s a fixture in the top ten and WTF each year but he’s not likely to trouble those above him, win a GS, or Masters 1000. The only Masters he won was in 2005.
It doesn’t surprise me the French crowd are getting behind Birdy. I actually like him although he can be a bit of a pratt at times. He has never really managed to win the crowds over and I gather isn’t wildly popular in the locker room eithee.
correction. That should read ‘crowd are NOT getting behind Birdy.
why not?
hehehe, delighted Nick held! 4-2 Nicky
Beatdown!!!
How’s he playing?
Not as lights out as yesterday. He’ll need to up it. Marin’s getting confident.
Can’t seem him losing to Cilic if he does that to Berdych. Plus Cilic lost a set to Paire, which is……not good.
And another break.
5-2 Nick serving for Match.
That 2nd point was dumb – hit it right to Berd.
Good at 30-15
40-15 ace
2 mp’s
2nd serve. Got it. GSM . Go Nicky! Win the title!
Awesome stuff from Kyrgios. Looks like he’s producing the results he should. ALLEZ Nick!! Can’t wait to watch the recording of this when I get home. Torn between who I’m rooting for tomorrow. I think Kyrgios is gonna win though. Unless he has a letdown which doesn’t seem likely at this point.
I just watched my recording of the match. Kyrgios was very sharp! Berdy didn’t have the answers.
Kyrgios may be hard to stop.
Congrats to me for predicting Kyrgios in 2! I guess I was the only one ?
Anyway, Nick played great! The crowd must get behind him! He is such an unusual player and the way he hits those winners is beyond real! Such a pleasure to watch! Hope he wins the title! He should!
Go Nick!!!