Dustin Brown will contest his fourth match of the week when he faces Gilles Simon on Thursday in Montpellier. Second-round action also features fellow Frenchmen Benoit Paire and Paul-Henri Mathieu.
(3) Gilles Simon vs. (Q) Dustin Brown
One of the most glaring contrast in styles in all of tennis will be on display when Simon and Brown go head-to-head for the third time in their careers at the Open Sud de France on Thursday. Simon is arguably the tour’s most consistent player and he famously coaxed Novak Djokovic into 100 unforced errors in their five-set match during fourth-round action at the recent Australian Open. Brown is shot-maker who keeps points shorts with both incredible winners and mind-numbing unforced errors. So far it is Simon who has been getting the best of this intriguing matchup, with wins six years ago in Stuttgart (in a third-set tiebreaker) and later that fall on the indoor hard courts of Metz (6-3, 6-4).
It has already been a stellar week for Brown, who qualified for the Montpellier main draw with three-set defeats of Mischa Zverev and David Guez. The 133rd-ranked German followed that up with a 7-5, 7-5 victory over Steve Darcis on Tuesday. Simon, on the other hand, is contesting his first match of the tournament after earning a bye as the No. 3 seed. Simon is a mediocre 6-5 lifetime in Montpellier with one trip to the semifinals (2012). With home-court advantage and game-plan that should work well against the underdog, Simon is likely to advance through what should be an entertaining affair.
Pick: Simon in 2
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Paul-Henri Mathieu vs. (4) Benoit Paire
Paire and Mathieu will also be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers when the two Frenchmen collide again on Thursday. They faced each other twice last season, with Paire coming out on top each time. He got a retirement from Mathieu in Marseille (Paire won the first set 6-4) before prevailing 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 in the semis of the Mouilleron Le Captif Challenger, also on indoor hard courts.
Mathieu booked his spot in the last 16 of this tournament by taking out Elias Ymer 6-1, 6-4 on Tuesday. The 34-year-old, who registers at 93rd in the rankings, lost in the Doha second round (to Jeremy Chardy) and in the Australian Open first round (to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez) last month. Paire was outstanding for much of the second half of 2015, but he is a mediocre 3-3 so far this year. Montpellier’s fourth seed should be able to ride his backhand to a victory, but his mental state appears to be fragile yet again and he may make life hard on himself before ultimately getting the job done.
Pick: Paire in 3
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who ya got?
Simon in two but could go three and Paire in two and that also could go three.
bold picks!?
you picked the safe bet, the Frenchman, didn’t you. 😀
I did, you bet!
savvy pick on my part
Haha eh same difference ??
Paire in 3
Simon in 3
Dreddy wins 1st set. 6-4
Gilou off his game so far.
Brown using the correct tactics
Yeah and I like Dreddy’s energy from the start much more than Gilou’s.
he came to play
Love both these guys. Dreddy has never won an ATP title, is that right?
he has never been to a semifinal
Cool he has Bemelmans in the qtrs. Go Dreddy!
should be a W. Which probably means an L.
That’s how it works. Dreddy on fire v the great Gilou; comes out flat v Bemelmans.
What’s up with Gillou?
Brown is what’s up
Gilou started very slow – nonchalant, I’d say.
Much deserved win by Dreddy. He played aggressive, served well; Gilou started to come alive a little the 2nd set but it was too little too late.
Simon was horrendous on the big points
Well that’s ruined the predictions of all you betting men…………..!!
ALLEZ DUSTIN!! Finally he makes a semi. Hard to believe he never has. I remember one time he beat Rafa in Halle but lost in the QF 16-14 in the third set breaker to Kohlschreiber. I hope Dreddy somewhat fulfills his potential this year and hits top 50 at least. Same with monfils. I would say if Dreddy keeps it up he can win title with monfils and Cilic both out as well. Not saying he is going to but I think he has a good chance. Vamos!!!!
AT 4:59 PM,
—I remember one time he beat Rafa in Halle but lost in the QF… —
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Of course everybody remembers only this – that’s why it’s the meal ticket.
He has reached QFs more than once…
8
He only beat Rafa because of Rafa’s stated mental problems.
Et tu,
Gillou?
Don’t vous?
Benny (AT 4:59 PM),
—ALLEZ DUSTIN! Finally he makes a semi. Hard to believe he never has.—
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He still never has.
Wait that was second round my bad. He’ll make semis if he beats Bemelmans. Dangit. I swear if he loses lol.
0-8 lifetime