Marseille QF previews and picks: Monfils vs. Bolelli, Simon vs. Chardy

A trio of Frenchmen can be found in Friday’s quarterfinal lineup in Marseille. Gilles Simon and Jeremy Chardy are set for an all-French showdown, while Gael Monfils is going up against an upset-minded Simone Bolelli.

Simone Bolelli vs. (7) Gael Monfils

The top 10 does not beat Simone Bolelli 36 times in a row. At least that’s what Milos Raonic found out the hard way during second-round action at the Open 13 on Thursday. Bolelli had previously been 0-35 lifetime against top-10 opponents, but he stunned the sixth-ranked Canadian 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(3). An in-form Bolelli opened with a 6-4, 7-6(4) win over Luca Vanni and his 7-4 record this season includes a quarterfinal showing in Sydney. The Italian also captured an improbable Australian Open doubles title with compatriot Fabio Fognini.

Up next for Bolelli on Friday is a quarterfinal date with Monfils. They have faced each other just once, when Bolelli prevailed 6-4, 6-2 back at the 2007 Miami Masters. Monfils has not yet done anything Earth-shattering in 2015, but perhaps what is most important is that he appears to be healthy. The 21st-ranked Frenchman reached the Rotterdam quarters last week and so far in Marseille he has taken out both Alexander Zverev and Andrey Kuznetsov in straight sets. Facing Monfils in France is a tough test, especially for someone having to mentally get back in business after such a big win.

Pick: Monfils in 2

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(5) Gilles Simon vs. Jeremy Chardy

Simon and Chardy will be going head-to-head for the fourth time in their careers and for the second time in the last two weeks when they meet again on Friday. All three of their previous encounters have gone Simon’s way, including a 6-4, 6-3 decision during recent second-round play in Rotterdam. The world No. 17 also prevailed 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 at the 2011 French Open and 6-4, 7-6(5) two years ago on the clay courts of Madrid.

Chardy has been the beneficiary of a favorable Marseille draw. The 35th-ranked Frenchman overcame qualifier David Guez in three sets before easing past an ice-cold Ernests Gulbis 6-3, 6-4. Simon got a second-set retirement from Pierre-Hugues Herbert then held off Borna Coric 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 on Thursday. As their past history indicates, Simon’s consistency is generally way too much for Chardy–regardless of the surface. Unless the underdog serves incredibly well and can dictate rallies on a regular basis, this should be straightforward.

Pick: Simon in 2

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