The last quarterfinal spots will be handed out in Metz on Thursday, when Gael Monfils begins his week against Philipp Kohlschreiber. Nikoloz Basilashvili is also in action, as he faces Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
(LL) Philipp Kohlschreiber vs. (3) Gael Monfils
One of the most lopsided head-to-head matchups on tour will add another chapter when Gael Monfils and Philipp Kohlschreiber square off in the Moselle Open second round on Thursday. Monfils has taken 14 of their 16 meetings, has won 6 in a row and 9 consecutive sets, and is 10-0 against Kohlschreiber on hard courts.
Nothing figures to change in this one now that Monfils is starting to win matches again. The 20th-ranked Frenchman advanced to the Toronto quarterfinals, the Cincinnati third round, and the U.S. Open third around. As for the 37-year-old Kohlschreiber, his career appears to be winding down and he needed a lucky-loser spot in the Metz main draw before beating Marco Cecchinato 7-6(3), 6-3. A huge step up in competition will likely see Kohlschreiber suffer yet another loss at Monfils’ hands.
Pick: Monfils in 2
(8) Nikoloz Basilashvili vs. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Basilashvili and Davidovich Fokina, on the other hand, will be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers. Not too much unlike Monfils, Basilashvili was a complete disaster for about 12 months but has turned things around in a big way. The 36th-ranked Georgian is a solid 26-22 in 2021 and recently advanced to third rounds at the Olympics, Toronto Masters, and U.S. Open.
Davidovich Fokina had been on a four-match losing streak before benefiting from a favorable draw and defeating Gilles Simon 6-7(4), 7-6(2), 6-2 on Tuesday. In addition to a big edge in current form, Basilashvili also has a surface advantage on indoor hard courts. Although Davidovich Fokina is by no means hopeless on hards, the 22-year-old Spaniard would much prefer to contest this matchup on clay.
Pick: Basilashvili in 3
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Kohl to win a set to break the trend
Basil also in three