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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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.