Alexander Zverev will be looking to maintain his fine form and pull off an upset of Gilles Simon in the Rotterdam second round on Thursday. Viktor Troicki and Hyeon Chung are also in action.
(WC) Alexander Zverev vs. (3) Gilles Simon
Simon and Zverev will be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers when they battle for a quarterfinal spot at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament on Thursday. Zverev is in outstanding form, picking up right where he left off in 2015. The 18-year-old German is up to a career-high ranking of No. 70 in the world thanks in a part to a semifinal showing last week in Montpellier, where he also finished runner-up with his brother in doubles. Zverev began his Rotterdam campaign on Wednesday with a 7-5, 6-2 defeat of Vasek Pospisil.
Simon has lost his first match in two events this season, although one ended 12-10 in a second-set tiebreaker and the other came at the hands of a going-for-broke Dustin Brown in Montpellier. The 15th-ranked Frenchman made sure not to make the same mistake again, as he got past Robin Haase 7-6(5), 6-1 on Wednesday. Simon also reached the fourth round of the Australian Open, where he famously drew 100 unforced errors out of Novak Djokovic before succumbing in five sets. Zverev would prefer a faster surface than the one in Rotterdam in order to implement his big-hitting game against a counter-puncher of Simon’s caliber. The veteran will likely showcase too much experience and guile in what should be an entertaining encounter.
Pick: Simon in 2
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Hyeon Chung vs. (8) Viktor Troicki
Few players aside from the very best in the world are in better form than Troicki at the start of this 2016 campaign. The 22nd-ranked Serb is 11-3 on the season with a title in Sydney and runner-up showing last week in Sofia (lost to a red-hot Roberto Bautista Agut). Troicki made a quick turnaround to overcome Andrey Kuznetsov 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-3 in his Rotterdam opener on Wednesday.
Up next for the eighth seed is a first-ever meeting with Chung. The 19-year-old Korean has peaked as high as No. 51 in the world and he currently registers at 69th. He is on the way back up thanks to a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez on Tuesday. Inconsistency, though, will almost always be a problem for any teenager on the pro tour. Chung, for example, suffered a bad 6-2, 6-3 loss to Marius Copil in the Sofia first round. Troicki’s experience and current match toughness should see him through to the quarters.
Pick: Troicki in 3
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who ya got?
Troicki in 3 and Simon in 3
I will go with the picks. Simon in 2 sets and Troicki in 3 sets.
Troiki in 3
Simon in 3 – match of the day for me.
on paper for sure
Zverev Minor in 3. Not convinced Simon didn’t pick up an injury during the Haase match. Hope I’m wrong.
Troicki in 2
what happened
Towards the end of a gruelling first set, he appeared to jar his shoulder serving at 40-30 to level 6:6. He was clearly in pain but msnsged to hang in and take the TB. Haase faded in the 2nd set and Simon, apart from looking very weary, completed the match without any further signs of being in pain.
http://www.tennistv.com/match/robin-haase-v-gilles-simon/1wv30y3s4gamh1iey9blpw2ban
Have to subscribe to watch tennistv link – so couldn’t watch it, but I believe you ed. Didn’t see him jar his shoulder but will say he was wincing and had something going on. As you say – very weary and relieved when it was all over. Believe Sascha has a chance, maybe for a set, if he’s not too worn out himself, at this point.
Chung hung in there – a 41 shot rally, 27 shot rally, some great points but Troiki edged the young South Korean in the tb. 1st set, Victor, 7(7) 6(5). Hyeon is a steady, solid player, no big weapons but strong mentally.
Both Simon and Viktor in straight sets…
If Giles picked up an injury, then he did a great job in winning 6-1 in the second set
yep, I did not see it
Chung battling hard but he is out of his depth against a super confident Troicki – who is still in my bad books.
Well I just hope that either way, everybody Hyeon Chung tonight.
“Red Cross” Troicki over “Everybody” Hyeon Chung tonight in two.
Gilles “Vote-No-On-318” Simon over Al “Well-I-just-hope-that-you-not-comparing-me-with-Misha” Zvevev in two.
Don’t you? Or do you.
358, sorry everybody!!!
Meet the new math, same as the old math.
Looking for the upset-still going with the youngster!
sick shot by Simon
3-2 on serve. Good match.
Just started watching…
Love these two.
Sascha! About to serve for the 1st set 6-5
Setscha
hahaha 😀
Simon will get this set. I hope.
That was so good.., Sascha breaks already 2nd set. Will serve at 2-1.
Allez Gilou! rebreak.
Wow! I just got home to see that Zverev won the first set and is up a break in the second set. That is why I have been keeping my eye on him. Let’s see if Zverev can get the win.
Simon breaks back!
oh hi, Nny. 🙂
This is good!
rc,
Hi! Yes, I came home in time to see some good tennis!
Some great long rallies. Simon knew when and how to pull the trigger in that long rally to win the point.
Good stuff from both guys!
Yep. but the kid is doing a great job in many of the rallies. Sascha has a nice backhand. But his forehand not as reliable.
Simon with the break, serving for 2nd set
rc,
Good observation about Zverev’s forehand letting him down. His backhand was doing a lot of damage in this match.
Simon fights back and wins the second set! Love watching him play!
Simon does break right back 2-2.
Sascha’s forehand letting him down a little.
Simon breaks to go up 5-3. He is serving for the second set.
Yeah Sascha is not as sharp the last few games. Simon is getting better as the match goes on…marathoner man.
Atrocious calls from what I’ve watched this match.
You have to be so fast to beat Simon. Can’t pause for a millisecond!
Sascha needs a first serve…
Simon doing what he does best. The deciding set will be a big test for the youngster. Gillou is one of my favouries but I’m also a big fan of Sacha so i’m cool about who comes out on top in this match.
me too.
It’s some brutal rallies… don’t think the youngster will have the legs to stay with Simon though…
Cramping. Sascha cramping. That’s too bad.
Agree… that’s what it takes to be as fit as Giles though… but who knows. Beware of the wounded dog
Simon showed some grit and toughness in this match. Zverev needs to work on fitness. Simon is like a human backboard, getting everything back.
Zverev’s forehand had broken down.
how long has this third set lasted?
45 minutes.
hahaha wow. he breaks Simon??!!
And still going… didn’t see that break coming… what next? ?
third set breaker hopefully
I smell an upset over here… lady luck has turned. Gruelling tennis
59 minute set…
On my way home from high school tennis match and I see the score. Holy crap!! I can’t wait to see the end.
same
Hope you make it in time… This has been some set of tennis. Big ups to Alexander though… kid has some talent
2 points away from breker
rallies for days
Simon tiring him out before the breaker
Who’s your money on in the breaker
Simon 7-4
2-0 Dr. Z
I watched another recording and taped the to. I went back and watched it and was really surprised to see Simon lose those last two points.
I thought for sure Simon would pull out the win.
I meant taped the TB!
Well done to Zverev.
I’ll go against you… Zverev 7-5. Just to keep it interesting.lol
3-2 Z
but mini break gone
3-3
ZVEREV 8-6!!!
Simon 71-69
Hahahhaha
2 MPs Z
3-3
Too close to call…
clutch from both now
That’s the match… can’t believe it
what were those last 2 points by sigh-mon?
Just plain bad!
Gael Monfils is the prize in the quarterfinal.
good result for the Monf
Monfils will be smiling… He won’t have enough in the tank tomorrow for Gael
Yep
BUT only if Monfils plays a smart match
Monf could hand him at least a set, if not the match
Thought I’d gone out on a limb by predicting Zverev Minor in 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He did it! Great match. Congrats Sascha.
Hm, am I too much of a fan-girl if I put up his avatar picture now?
Big Z!
No
Some match.
Nooooo I turned on the tv right after he had won. I did see slow motion of his reaction though. Sweet win for Zverev. I think Monfils will beat him in QF but that’s huge victory for the German.
500 QF is huge points
Wow…!!
Have to check where that puts him
Zverev Minor will be ranked mid-50’s.
top 50 if he beats Le
Monfils should beat zverev in the quarters. But I think the win over Simon will give Zverev some real confidence, especially the way he won it.
NNY: ‘especially the way he won it’
Agree wholehearedly. To have survived after the set back and fought through the cramping was hugely impressive.