Shanghai R1 previews and picks: Gasquet vs. Chardy, Sock vs. Tomic

October 5, 2014 Ricky Match previews 22

TomicAn all-French affair on Monday in Shanghai will pit Richard Gasquet against Jeremy Chardy. Jack Sock and Bernard Tomic are also bidding for a place in the second round.
Jeremy Chardy vs. Richard Gasquet

Chardy and Gasquet will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers when the two Frenchmen do battle in round one of the Shanghai Rolex Masters on Monday. Their only previous encounter came five years ago on the hard courts of Sydney, where Gasquet prevailed 6-2, 7-6(4). The world No. 22 is looking to bounce back from a 6-4, 6-0 opening loss in Beijing to Rafael Nadal. All in all it has been a mediocre season for Gasquet, whose 2014 record stands at 29-16.

Chardy’s week to begin his Asian swing was more successful, as the world No. 34 (as of Sunday) scored wins over Rajeev Ram and Kevin Anderson before bowing out to eventual champion Kei Nishikori. Chardy, who once reached the Shanghai third round as a qualifier (2010), is 28-23 for the year. If the underdog can serve well, he should be able to dictate play to the Gasquet forehand and find success.

Pick: Chardy in 3

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Jack Sock vs. (Q) Bernard Tomic

Sock and Tomic will also be squaring off for the second time in their careers on Monday. Their only previous meeting came last fall in Stockholm, where Sock rolled 6-4, 6-2. The American was in considerably superior form at that point in 2013 and the case is no different this time around. Sock owns 22 ATP-level victories this season and nearly reached the Tokyo semifinals last week before falling to Benjamin Becker in three sets.

Tomic has won only two main-draw matches since capturing a title in Bogota, which came very early in the summer. The 67th-ranked Australian got a bad draw last week in Tokyo, where he lost to eventual runner-up Milos Raonic in the first round. Perhaps it is good news for Tomic that the match will be on his opponent’s racket, because Sock can be inconsistent at times. Still, this one is Sock’s to win or lose–and he is playing well enough at the moment to win it.

Pick: Sock in 3

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22 Comments on Shanghai R1 previews and picks: Gasquet vs. Chardy, Sock vs. Tomic

  1. wow..Dr Ivo dispatched USO Champion…no surprise there…this is what you get when playing big hitters…pure lottery…but Ivo certainly deserved to win…his Chinese wife will be delighted… 🙂

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  2. Ivo is married to a chinese? He must be double her height. Tall men like small women.

    Cilic was robbed though. He had advantage to hold serve at 5:6 in the 1 set when a perfectly good ball on the baseline was called out. He didn’t challenge so Karlovic broke him and served out the first set.

    Rafa’s got all the big hitters in his half year again, just like in Beijing, but this time they’ve added Raonic as well. Is it by chance? Who knows?

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  9. Alsi Karovic is actually from Jamaica although they met in China and she apparently lived there…she once visited Croatia and the news announced she was Chinese since she was so short and came from China…how can anyone be considered tall when standing next to Ivo?!!

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  10. Alsi Karlovic is actually from Jamaica although they met in China and she apparently lived there…she has American citizenship and they have a daughter together…at some instance she visited Croatia and the tabloids announced she was Chinese since she came from China and was so short…how can anyone be considered tall when standing next to Ivo?!!

    Reply

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