It will be a preview of the upcoming Davis Cup final when Andy Murray goes up against David Goffin on Thursday in Paris. Novak Djokovic and Gilles Simon are also aiming for a place in the quarterfinals.
(16) David Goffin vs. (2) Andy Murray
A match that could decide the 2015 Davis Cup will be previewed during third-round action at the BNP Paribas Masters on Thursday. Murray and Goffin are set to square off for the second time in their careers, having previously faced each other last summer at Wimbledon. The Scot cruised 6-1, 6-4, 7-5, after which Goffin immediately went on a 25-match winning streak. Goffin has not really slowed down, as he is up to No. 16 in the world and has Belgium in the Davis Cup final (the Belgians will face Murray and visiting Great Britain starting Nov. 27). He kicked off his Paris campaign on Wednesday by hammering Dusan Lajovic 6-2, 6-2.
Murray opened with a convincing 6-1, 6-2 rout of Borna Coric. The world No. 3 is an awesome 65-11 for the season and will head into the World Tour Finals–which he confirmed he will play on Monday–as either the second or third seed. Although he is a disappointing 14-8 lifetime at this event with no trips past the quarterfinals, Murray should have an advantage over Goffin on an indoor hard court. The favorite will eventually hit Goffin off the court, but it will be far more difficult than it was against Coric.
Pick: Murray in 3
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(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (14) Gilles Simon
Djokovic and Simon will be meeting for the 10th time in their careers on Thursday. The head-to-head series stands at 8-1 in favor of Djokovic, who has won eight in a row at the Frenchman’s expense since dropping their opener 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-3 on the indoor hard courts of Marseille in 2008. Nine of their 10 previous encounters have come on hard courts, with the only exception taking place last year at Wimbledon. They have not clashed since the 2014 Cincinnati Masters, where Djokovic got the job done 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
Simon survived an all-French affair to punch his ticket to this one, holding off Benoit Paire 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 on Tuesday night. The world No. 15 is 43-23 for the year and a decent 9-4 this fall with a runner-up showing in Metz. Djokovic did not reach peak form in his Paris opener but did have to while taking out Thomaz Bellucci 7-5, 6-3. The top-ranked Serb has not lost prior to a final since the very first tournament of the season in Doha, so for many reasons it is impossible to like Simon’s chances.
Pick: Djokovic in 2 losing 8-10 games
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Nole in two less than 8 games lost.
both Djokovic and Murray in straight sets.
Murray in 2 sets over Goffin.
Novak in 2 sets over Simon, losing 8-10 games.
Djokovic losing 8-10 in straights and Murray in three
Reblogged this on Tennis Abides.
Andy in 2.
Novak in 2 losing 5-7 games.
I think the Belgian DC Captain might consider giving Darcis the #1 spot in theDC final with this dismal showing of Goffin against Murray.
Final score:
Murray beat Goffin – 61 60
yep, it seems Murray just finished his “morning practice session”…
Goffin played as if he wasn’t quite awake yet, he was terrible in all departments. Murray didn’t have to much.
1 and O? Geez.
C’mon Simon, at least try to make a match out of it
6-3 Djoko on the 1st set…. business as usual
Djoko already broke in the 2nd – one way traffic
Back and forth.
not really!
I am just tracking the scores on this match. It’s too dull. Yes Djoker will win but it’s doing tennis no favours playing ping pong except when under the kosh.
Agreed. He’s really not allowing Simon to play his brand of exciting dynamic tennis.
🙂 🙂
The Kei/ Gasquet match was a great match even though Kei was unfit. Gasquet won fair and square. I think Kei got back problems during the match because they had several great rallies.
Unlike Australia final in 2014.
you mean before the back problems?
They seem to be breaking each other’s serve in the 2nd set.
I am waiting to see Novak vs Tsonga cause no doubt Novak will beat Simon at the end…but playing this way Novak really looks vulnerable out there…this is such a strange match…it’s like we are watching WTA match where those two are both having a bad day in the office…so funny…
They met in Shanghai, didn’t they, and Tsonga folded like a cheap piece of paper and giving Rafa grief.
but this is Tsonga’s home soil and the crowd will go wild…he will play differently I am sure…Time for Tsonga to prove something because Novak is getting tired…as I expected he would be…
Agreed. We watched Nole vs Tsonga in Montreal in 2011 which I thought would be a good match up but Tsonga lasted a set and then bailed.
Don’t be fooled by Novak; he always conserves his energy for his later rounds. I expect him to play much better in the QF to beat whoever there.
Lucky,
Thank you! Yes, I don’t know how many times I read people saying that Novak doesn’t look good, isn’t playing well. But when he gets to the semis and finals, he goes up another level.
He’s been really good about saving his energy and his best when it counts the most.
that’s true…but NOTHING lasts forever…it will have to change at some point…
Back and forth:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CTDfUFHUkAAC5VJ.png
🙂
It’s nice to see that Murray did make short work of Goffin. Just as I thought! 🙂
The breaks of serve have shut the commies up for a while. They were just going over the top with praise for hawkeye’s favourite player.
We all can’t be Stan fans.
Still can’t get Me out of your mind. Love it!
This is a Rafa-Hawkeye-Centric site.
#NotNecessarilyInOrder
Kei is once again plagued with injury problems. He hasn’t looked that great recently. Good for Gasquet getting this win.
At least this is not as dire as the Murray/Goffin match. Goffin looked like he fell out of bed onto the court. People should ask for their money back. It was the most terrible matches I have ever seen.
must have been sick. Goffin never plays bad.
Nor pospisil. :eyeroll:
or tanked to get Murray overconfident
that must be the case…LOL… 🙂
we will soon find out….on clay
Another break of serve. 5:5
Hah! Simon breaks back against Novak to even it up in the second set. The crowd is loving it!
ALLEZ Gilles!!!
The trend continues:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CTDkOvnXIAANjVK.png
Oh too bad. Novak breaks Simon right back I wanted to see this set go to a tb.
you may have been the only person wanting to see that match go on any longer
Yes, it was an ugly match, but it’s true that I wanted to see Simon get to a tb and push Novak even more.
fair point
WTA players will become jealous…these two steal the spotlight and will now be more talked about getting broken in one match than most of the WTA players… 🙂
Alize Lim is in Grigor’s box again
so this is why he broke up with Sharapova…
well she was still dating Chardy LONG after Dimitrov and Sharapova broke up
6-3 7-5 Djokovic
The whole 2nd set (including 2 parts I have already posted):
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CTDnMSLWwAA05zC.png
I find Alize Lim cuter than Sharapova, good change Dimi
He’s doing pretty well for himself
Who’s Alize Lim? Where’s she from?
Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aliz%C3%A9_Lim
(I have never heard about her anything)
That’s a problem for us lot. You’re meant to keep eyes open and your ear to the ground 24/24hrs week in, week out. 😉
#ReutersIsNotKeepingUp
You know I never heard of Alize Lim. Is she Dimi’s new girlfriend? They already switched to Fed/Isner, so I may not get a chance to check out this person.
Inquiring minds want to know! 🙂
I just looked at some photos of her…she is very cute…maybe she is dating both Chardy and Dimy ATM and can’t make up her mind… 🙂 🙂
^LOL!
she dated Chardy until like a few days ago
Oh, I checked out that link. So she’s a tennis player. Dimi must like to only date women who are professional tennis players.
I wanted to see Ferrer/Dimi. That one was tied at 3-all when they switched to Fed/Isner.
I am following the score for Ferrer/Dimi. Still on serve at 5-all.
Fed and Isner still on serve. That’s no surprise.
Dimitrov took the 1st set 7-6(4).
bad by Ferrer
Too bad I couldn’t see it.
Whatever the reason for Goffin not showing up today it’s a pity Andy didn’t get a decent match under his belt. That’s two rounds he has sleepwalked his way through on the way to QF. It’s quite difficult to maintain focus when the other player is MIA. Gasquet has playing well so hopefully Andy will be match sharp for the SF – that is unless he wants to get to London early 😉
I bet Murray went straight to the practice court after the match. I wouldn’t write Gasquet off though by putting Muz in the SF yet, the match still has to be played..
Gasquet will win
I haven’t put him in the SFs yet. You weren’t concentrating on the space between the words at the end of my the final sentence 😉
Rooting for Richard but I’m thinking Murray wins in three.
After seeing how well Murray played against Goffin, I think he’s going to beat Gasquet. It could go 3 sets.
I thought Murray played well, despite Goffin playing so poorly. He truly did not show up. Gasquet will definitely give Murray a match.