The top three seeds are through to the quarterfinals in Marseille. Tomas Berdych, Juan Martin Del Potro, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will all be in action on Friday.
Bernard Tomic vs. (3) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
Tsonga and Tomic will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers when they face off in the quarterfinals of the Open 13 on Friday. Their only previous encounter came two seasons ago on the hard courts of Montreal, where Tsonga prevailed 6-3, 7-6(1). Tomic, however, is starting to back up his well-documented talk at 20 years old. The 46th-ranked Australian captured his first career ATP title last month in Sydney and he boasts a 9-2 record for his 2013 campaign following wins this week over Martin Klizan (in a third-set tiebreaker) and Somdev Devvarman.
Tsonga is a decent 6-2 for the year after taking care of Nikolay Davydenko in straight sets on Wednesday. The eighth-ranked Frenchman, who is trying to rebound from a surprising first-round Rotterdam loss to Igor Sijsling, is looking for his fourth trip to the semifinals and ultimately for his second title at this event. Tomic would have a better chance of the upset on a different surface, but Tsonga clearly has the edge playing at home in France on an indoor hard court.
Pick: Tsonga in 2
(6) Gilles Simon vs. (2) Juan Martin Del Potro
Simon and Del Potro have something of a friendly rivalry going as they head into a quarterfinal showdown in Marseille. Del Potro leads a competitive head-to-head series 3-2 and all five of their previous encounters have featured plenty of entertainment. They split a pair of U.S. Open thrillers before Del Potro prevailed most recently 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 at last summer’s London Olympics. Simon has a 2-1 edge on hard courts, but they have never faced each other indoors.
Del Potro has to consider himself lucky just to be at this point this week. The seventh-ranked Argentine saved one match point before outlasting Michael Llodra 3-6, 7-6(4), 7-5 on Thursday in a rematch of last year’s final. Del Potro is maintaining his hot streak after a title in Rotterdam on Sunday. Simon booked his spot in this quarterfinal with straight-set victories over Robin Haase and Roberto Bautista-Agut. The 13th-ranked Frenchman is now 10-4 for his 2013 campaign. Del Potro’s power against Simon’s relentless counter-punching has always been an intriguing matchup. On this surface, the advantage rests with the No. 2 seed…but, as always, it won’t be without drama.
Pick: Del Potro in 3
(1) Tomas Berdych vs. (7) Jerzy Janowicz
When Jerzy Janowicz steps onto an indoor hard court in France, you better watch out. The 6’8” Pole stormed into ATP prominence last fall with a shocking run to the Paris Masters final and he may be up to his old tricks–albeit on a smaller scale–in Marseille. Janowicz made short work of Lukas Rosol then scored an impressive straight-set victory over Julien Benneteau on Thursday.
Berdych held off a rare spirited effort from Ernests Gulbis in his opener and advanced with a 6-4, 6-7(10), 6-4 win. The sixth-ranked Czech isn’t completely on fire this season, but he is still exponentially more consistent than he was earlier in his career. First-serve percentage will be crucial in this hard-hitting collision, and Janowicz will have to top his opponent in that department in order to have a chance at the upset, because Berdych can do more damage off both wings from the baseline. Look for the No. 1 seed to win another close one.
Pick: Berdych in 3
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