Now in an eighth of the draw vacated by David Ferrer, David Goffin will look to maintain his hot streak when he faces Fernando Verdasco on Wednesday in Monte-Carlo. Frenchmen Richard Gasquet and Lucas Pouille are also in action.
(11) David Goffin vs. (WC) Fernando Verdasco
Goffin and Verdasco will be squaring off for the fourth time in their careers when they clash in round two of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Wednesday. Verdasco is leading the head-to-head series 2-1, including 1-0 on clay. He prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 at the 2013 Australian Open and 7-6(2), 6-2 later that season in Madrid. A much-improved player two years later, Goffin turned the tide with a 6-4, 7-6(4) victory last summer in Cincinnati.
Continuing to take his tennis to new heights, Goffin is in the midst of what is shaping up to be by far his best year on tour. The 13th-ranked Belgian is coming off consecutive Masters 1000 semifinals in Indian Wells and Miami, having never previously reached that stage of such a tournament. He maintained his hot streak by blitzing Feliciano Lopez 7-5, 6-0 on Tuesday. Verdasco did not have to make as quick of a turnaround as his first opponent, because he lost in the Houston second round last week whereas Federico Delbonis captured the Marrakech title. The 88th-ranked Spaniard made quick 6-0, 6-3 work of the fatigued Argentine. Goffin will obviously be a much tougher proposition for Verdasco in a showdown between two players clearly going in opposite directions.
Pick: Goffin in 2
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(9) Richard Gasquet vs. (WC) Lucas Pouille
It will be an all-French affair when Gasquet and Pouille go head-to-head for the second time in their careers on Wednesday. Their only previous meeting came last season on the indoor hard courts of Montpellier, where Gasquet got the job done 6-3, 7-6(6). The world No. 10’s 2016 campaign got off to a late start because of a back injury, but he is making up for lost time. Gasquet, who captured a title in Montpellier, is 11-3 after clobbering Nicolas Almagro 6-4, 6-0 on Monday.
Pouille is really starting to make a name for himself in 2016. The Frenchman’s ranking of No. 82 in the world is 18 spots away from his best-ever mark, but he is coming off a fourth-round run in Miami. Pouille got a wild card into Monte-Carlo and made the most of it by beating compatriot Nicolas Mahut 7-6(1), 6-3 on Monday. Gasquet, though, is playing with extreme confidence right now and for the moment is simply in a different league.
Pick: Gasquet in 2
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who ya got?
Goffin and Gasquet in 2 sets.
Richard in straights and David in three
three?
Goffin in 2
Gasquet in 2
Gasquet has become my other favourite player besides Djokovic. A real enjoyable player to watch. Also Goffin is playing so well right now.
Goffin and Gasquet in 2.
Gasquet has been money this season. Would be on pace for the WTFs if he had not missed Australia.
guys who do you think will win, Svitolina or Panova match was interrupted yesterday due to rain.
Svitolina
I wish I was at home right now watching.
For the Djoker match. I really want Vesely wo get the upset. That would be insane.
Verdasco took the 2nd set against Goffin 6 – 2! ?
Verdasco had a set point in the 1st set and a match point, both on his own serve. He lost the 1st set & the match. 🙁
Typical of Verdasco. I dont harbor any hope that Verdasco can go far in any tournament.
He’s a spoiler, esp vs Rafa. He lost to some lowly ranked player after beating Rafa at the AO, setting off a chain effect resulting in Rafa earning that wooden spoon award! I totally dislike this Verdasco – a player who’s so eager to beat his own fellow countrymen and yet was full of errors and losing when playing others.
why the heck are you rooting for Verdasco?! just because he is rafa’s team mate in doubles? LOL
Agree with Lucky, he is a total waste
AT 6:05 PM,
What the heck should I have rooted for Goffin?! He is nobody to me. I can sometimes cheer for him if it’s somehow useful for Rafa.
Yep, I root for Verdasco because he is Rafa’s teammate and he is a good looking man! 🙂
got my answer. LOL
I like Goffin and I agree Verdasco is a wasted talent even if he was 7 in the world at one point. I was rooting for Nando though. Because he has the talent to win and it’s nice to see guys like him actually come through with their game and execute. Don’t know why it matters who people root for anyways. Oh and I’m still happy for Goffin especially because at this point it seems as if he’s gonna have three straights masters semifinals to kick off this season. His next two opponents could be Granollers and Monfils or Granollers and Vesely. Very possible the Belgian make yet another semifinal. If that happened he would crack the top 10 too.
Goffin had some LOL things to say afterward
Yay Goffin!! ?
I ? Goffin tennis.
Very happy for Jiri Vesely. Couldn’t watch any tennis except Stan v Kohls. I’m kinda relieved the streak ended now for Nole. Idemo Nole!
What streak?
Streak is the wrong word. sorry.
He’s overplayed, imo – Davis Cup – almost losing to Kukushkin, won IW-Miami. Had hoped he’d lose in IW or Miami. This more human and feels right to me. If he continues to lose early in Madrid or Rome, I’ll get worried about FO – not that I think he’s a shoe-in to win there, either.
^agree with this
Vamos Goffin! ???
Dang it. I like Goffin but the fact that Nando had so many chances and lost sucks. That would’ve been awesome for Verdasco. I was hoping he could get the upset. It was a roller coaster of a match.
draw is wide open, too
Goffin very well could be in line for a third straight masters 1000 semifinal.
Lucas of France defeated Richard of France 4-6, 7-5, 6-1. I’m not happy. 🙁
Gasquet was hurt
Lucas Pouille – Wow. Great win for him! Vesely and Pouille.
Feeling as sure as ever about Thiem losing in straight sets tomorrow. He’s played out – toast. Needs a rest like Nole.
Rafa looking good!
Day of upsets now with Gasquet Nole and Berdych all losing.
Somehow, Djoko losing to Vesely doesn’t feel like a tsunami like when Rafa loses to a low ranked player.
Novak lost in his first match!? LOL !
Not that it matters too much but it is kind of good lol. If he keeps winning every match he would stop having doubts !! Good that Vesley summoned the courage to take him down here. Well don! Saw the highlights.. very well played.
Now rafa, you MUST win this tournament. It will be a huge tournament win if he can do this.
As far as rafa’s performance goes, I am not too happy to be honest. The first set should have been 6-1 and he almost let it get 5-4 on serve! Was lucky to win 6-3. The second was better but again should have closed it at 5-2 .
The best thing about his performance was that he was really going for DTL forehands. I liked that. He must keep doing that….. I am sure he will improve in the next matches
And Don’t worry, Rafa will beat Thiem this time.
Thiem is a quality player now….I hope his ranking goes up quickly and he faces the big guys not before the qtr finals.
Rafa’s forehand will suppress thiem’s backhand.
Rafa played a poor match in South America and had still had MP. I predict Rafa to win this in 2 sets.
An injured Thiem will push the Rafa that played against Bedene.
It will go three sets.
I can see Thiem taking Rafa to 3 sets. I did not see rafa’s match today. I am still hoping to see the replay. Then I will have a better sense of how this match could go. But I am liking rafa’s chances.
will be a test if it does go to 3. will the jitters get to rafa yet again??
No comment, no?
could be….three sets or two sets, I believe Rafa will win. I am going for 2 sets
i predict it will 2 or 3 sets, no?
Gasquet was very passive in this match and was asking to lose. He was content playing rally-ball with Pouille until he was able to tease a few errors out of him. Richie was fortunate to win the first set and then didn’t take charge when he had his chances at 2-all and 4-all in the second set and love 30 both games. I’m one of Gasquet’s biggest fans but he really lacked aggression today and that was the difference
was injured
although he was fine in the second set, so your point is a good one
Today was a good day for tennis. It was falling into a lull with lack lustre tennis in danger of being the norm.
Hahaha