Metz QF previews and predictions: Gasquet vs. Simon, Albot vs. Berankis

It will be an all-French affair when Richard Gasquet and Gilles Simon face each other in the Metz quarterfinals on Friday. A more surprising showdown in the last eight pits Radu Albot against Ricardas Berankis.

Gilles Simon vs. (4) Richard Gasquet

Gasquet and Simon will be squaring off for the ninth time in their careers at the ATP level when they battle for a semifinal spot at the Moselle Open on Thursday. Unbelievably, Gasquet is a perfect 8-0 lifetime in the head-to-head series (not including one Challenger loss back in 2010). He is 18-3 in total sets at Simon’s expense following a 6-2, 7-6(4) victory early this season on the red clay of Marrakech. Gasquet is 5-0 lifetime against his fellow Frenchman on hard courts, most recently getting the job done 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-3 last fall in Shanghai.

It has already been a productive week in Metz for Simon, who punched his ticket to the quarters thanks to defeats of Jiri Vesely (7-5, 6-3) and seventh-seeded Filip Krajinovic (4-6, 7-5, 7-5). The world No. 39 is finding some much needed-success after compiling a 1-4 record in his previous five matches. Gasquet–whose summer included a title in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, a runner-up showing in Bastad, and a third-round performance at the U.S. Open–followed up a bye with a 6-4, 6-2 rout of qualifier Constant Lestienne. All signs point to the world No. 25 being able to maintain his mastery of Simon.

Pick: Gasquet in 2

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Radu Albot vs. Ricardas Berankis

Albot and Berankis will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers in an unexpected quarterfinal contest. They have split their two previous meetings, with Berankis prevailing 6-3, 6-3 at the 2016 Raanana Challenger before Albot survived a 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(4) thriller at the Miami Open this spring.

Berankis finds himself in the quarterfinals from completely out of nowhere, as the 103rd-ranked Lithuanian had been on a nine-match losing streak (qualifying and Challengers included) prior to arriving in Metz. He faced a tough draw, too, but beat Maximilian Marterer 7-6(1), 6-7(1), 6-4 before stunning Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-7(5), 7-6(6), 6-3 on Thursday. Albot owns 11 ATP-level match wins in 2018 following straight-set victories over Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Marton Fucsovics. The Moldovan is ranked slightly lower at No. 107, but he has a clear edge in current form and is far more rested.

Pick: Albot in 3

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