Nicolas Mahut is three wins away from a third career title in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, but second seed Bernard Tomic is standing in his way on Friday. Americans Sam Querrey and Stefan Kozlov are also part of the quarterfinal schedule.
(8) Nicolas Mahut vs. (2) Bernard Tomic
There is nothing like grass for Mahut, and no grass has been kinder to him than that of the Ricoh Open in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. The 34-year-old Frenchman captured his first career ATP title at this tournament in 2013 and he won it again last summer. In between, Mahut lifted a winner’s trophy in Newport–so all three of his triumphs have come at 250-point events on grass. The world No. 49 still has his work cut out for him this week, but he is off to a strong start with victories over Lukas Lacko and Paul-Henri Mathieu. Mahut is the first world No. 1 in doubles to reach an ATP singles quarterfinal since Jonas Bjokman at the 2005 If Stockholm Open.
Up next for the eighth seed on Friday is Tomic, who won their only previous ATP-level encounter 6-4, 6-3 earlier this season on the hard courts of Brisbane. The 23rd-ranked Aussie does not have home-court advantage this time around, but he will be happy transitioning from clay to grass. Tomic reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2011, also has a fourth-round finish at the All-England Club (2013), and he reached the quarters of this Stuttgart event last summer before falling in three sets to Rafael Nadal. The second seed, following a first-round bye this week, took out Aljaz Bedene 6-4, 6-3 on Tuesday. Unless Mahut serves extremely well, Tomic’s junk-balling, overall variety, and ability to keep balls low will likely frustrate a net-rushing opponent.
Pick: Tomic in 3
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(5) Sam Querrey vs. (WC) Stefan Kozlov
It will be an all-American affair when Querrey and Kozlov go head-to-head for the second time in their careers on Friday. Their only previous showdown came in the final of the 2014 Sacramento Challenger, where Querrey triumphed 6-3, 6-4. This next meeting is far more unexpected, as Kozlov had never won an ATP-level match prior to this week. The 18-year-old got a wild card into the main draw and has made the most of it by defeating Yoshihito Nishioka and fourth-seeded countryman Steve Johnson.
Querrey, on the other hand, is 10 years Kozlov’s senior and boasts 275 career match victories in his solid but unspectacular career. Grass has always been one of the world No. 37’s best surfaces and he is through to the last eight in ‘s-Hertogenbosch following straight-set scalps of Benjamin Becker and Tatsuma Ito. On the green stuff, Querrey’s serve and forehand should be good enough to give Kozlov a free lesson.
Pick:Â Querrey in 2
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I agree with the Querrey pick. I watched the Johnson match. Seems he much dimitrov is on a steady decline. Getting beaten far too often by players they should beat.
Mahut and Tomic is way too tight to call. I think it depends which Tomic shows up on the day. Where his is at during the match cos we know that Mahut will turn up wanting this more…
Think ima go Mahut in straights
I d say Mahut in three,Tomic is too unpredictable.