The semifinal lineup in Montpellier on Saturday is full of Frenchmen and Germans. In action for the host nation are Richard Gasquet and Paul-Henri Mathieu, who are set for respective meetings with Dustin Brown and Alexander Zverev.
(1) Richard Gasquet vs. (Q) Dustin Brown
Gasquet and Brown will be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers when they battle on Saturday for a place in the Open Sud de France championship match. Aside from his 2015 Wimbledon upset of Rafael Nadal, this has already been the best week of Brown’s career. The 133rd-ranked German had to qualify just to get into the main draw and he is now through to his first-ever ATP semifinal following victories over Steve Darcis, Gilles Simon, and Ruben Bemelmans. Brown had previously been 0-8 in quarterfinals before beating Bemelmans 6-3, 6-3 on Friday.
This is the first tournament of Gasquet’s season, as he has been dealing with a back problem. But the 10th-ranked Frenchman has wasted no time getting back in gear. He punched his ticket to the last four with straight-set defeats of Ernests Gulbis and Marcos Baghdatis. Brown is an extremely dangerous opponent and can really catch fire when he is playing confidently, but he has never been in this situation. Gasquet has a clear edge in experience and he will also enjoy home-court advantage in France.
Pick: Gasquet in 2
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Paul-Henri Mathieu vs. Alexander Zverev
It will be another Germany vs. France showdown when Zverev and Mathieu take the court on Saturday. Facing an opponent on the completely different end of the career spectrum is nothing new for Zverev this week. The 18-year-old German beat 30-year-old Luca Vanni in round one (saved a match point), upset world No. 13 and 2014 U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic, and then held off 35-year-old countryman Michael Berrer 6-7(2), 6-2, 7-5 on Friday. Zverev is through to his second career ATP semifinal, having previously made a surprising run in Hamburg two seasons ago.
The 34-year-old Mathieu has endured various bouts with injury of late, but he is currently inside the top 100 at 93rd in the rankings. He has advanced in Montpellier with victories over Elias Ymer, Benoit Paire, and John Millman, surrendering just one set to Millman in the process. This will be the fourth career meeting between the two players and first at the ATP level. Zverev leads the head-to-head series 2-1 with a pair of Challenger wins in 2014 (one on clay, one on hard). Mathieu took their most recent encounter 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 last season on the clay courts of the Aix en Provence Challenger. Both men are coming off tough three-setters and it will likely be easier for the teenager to recover. Zverev may be able to blast his opponent off the court in straights, but he could be in trouble if this turns into a tense three-setter.
Pick: Zverev in 2
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who ya got?
Zverev in 3
Provided he keeps his head I have a hunch the on-fire Brown could upset Gasquet in his own backyard.
Brown in 3
wowzer
What Ed said, it wouldn’t be all too surprising, looking at the Rotterdam draw, Gasquet might be distracted.
Voted Gasquet in 3
Sascha in 3
good point. man that thing is open without Fed
True. Buenos aires has a better draw honestly. Like with more top players I mean. Considering the top four seeds there are higher ranked than the second seed in Rotterdam. But the weakest draw by far is Memphis. Steve Johnson and Donald young are the two and three seed. Enough said. Aka this is nishikori’s to lose. I also saw Harrison made main draw. Fully expect him to bow out against tiafoe. But if he beats tiafoe (ok I was a little harsh, he could win) he will probably end up winning the first set against Nishikori then get bageled in the next two sets.
Zverev from 1-4 to 4-4
—Aside from his 2015 Wimbledon upset of Rafael Nadal—
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The meal ticket.
— this has already been the best week of Brown’s career…he is now through to his first-ever ATP semifinal—
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What a huge achievement at such a young age! ?
Gotta agree with gasquet in two. Would love to see Dreddy make giddiest final but I just don’t see him having the consistency to take down gasquet on French soil. If this was grass maybe I would say differently but in Montpellier in Browns very first semifinal a combo of gasquets good form and Browns likely nerves heading in should make for an entertaining straight set victory for gasquet. Also agreeing with Zverev to win but I’m picking him to prevail in three. I see Mathieu making it tough for the young German and the fact that it’s probably the best chance he’s had to make a maiden ATP World Tour final may cause him to be nervous and possibly lose considering Mathieu has been in very good form as well. Still favoring Zverev to take another three setter with maybe not as much of a battle as he had in the quarters with berrer.
Haha I meant first not giddiest. #autocorrect
How in heaven’s sake did autocorrect manage to morph ‘first’ into ‘giddiest’ ?
#dumbphone
lol!!
Exactly
Is this match as close and exciting as the scoreboard suggests?
Damn. Sascha been broken.
PHM serving for the match. I guess playing singles and doubles finally took its toll. But no. Sascha breaks back.
Talk about fearless. PHM will serve for the match a second time.
Is it 2009? Haven’t seen Paulo play like this since he had Federer on the ropes at Roland Garros.
Oh they need hawkeye!
Ah Sascha…he’s such a fighter!
I just tuned in, ed.
OMG. Sascha broke back 5-5
Is this a cliff hanger or what! If only the youngster had a more powerful 2nd serve.
every Sascha match this week has had lots of cliff hanger.
PHM gets a third bite at the cherrry.
Mathieu breaks back and will attempt serving this out again.
Regardless, what I’ve seen of Sascha this week, wow. Like him a lot.
The stars of Montpellier this week have been Dreddy and Sascha, ed.
But what is up with PHM, seriously? Playing tennis better than ever at 34.
It seems to be all the rage these days!
3rd time lucky for PHM. I guess experience got him through that match.
And now, after a suitable rest time (dont you love that phrase) Sascha will come out again for the doubles.
yeah. Not too sure about a suitable rest. But he’s 18, so, maybe. What a week!
Well, Gasquet v Dreddy next.
Fed Cup rocks, too.
i wouldn’t be watching any tennis at this time of the year apart from the AO as I am normally sunning myself in Spain but I’m nursing my elderly and very frail dog and am virtually housebound. That’s why I’m so sick at not being able to follow any of the Montpelier matches live.
Aw, sweet of you.
Ha, ha. Dreddy has an early break.
Go Dreddy!
I’m watching Fed Cup scores. How lame is that? No tv coverage and I’m too cheap to order TC Plus or the WTA online package (which is tempting).
Love Caroline Garcia and Kiki Mladenovic. My girl, Camila Giorgi beat Kiki. And Caroline has to get this win over Sara Errani.
Hahaha Dreddy 1st set 61 in 28 minutes.
Whoa!! I wish I got up earlier to watch. Now I gotta go play tennis but I can’t wait to see the end when I get home. Hopefully Dreddy keeps it up and wins! VAMOS!!