Roger Federer will go up against flamboyant Frenchman Gael Monfils on Thursday in Shanghai. Another Frenchman, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, is also in action.
Gael Monfils vs. (5) Roger Federer
Monfils and Federer will be squaring off for the eighth time in their careers when they collide in round three of the Shanghai Rolex Masters on Thursday. Federer is leading the head-to-head series 6-1, including 2-1 on hard courts. They have not faced each other on this surface since the Paris Masters indoor event of three years ago, when Monfils pulled out a 7-6(7), 6-7(1), 7-6(4) victory. Their most recent encounter came at the 2011 French Open, where Federer won 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(3) in the quarterfinals.
Playing his first match in the aftermath of a fourth-round U.S. Open loss to Tommy Robredo, Federer opened on Wednesday with a 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Andreas Seppi. The seventh-ranked Swiss is a modest 36-12 for the season and just 9-5 in his last 14 matches dating back to his Wimbledon second-round ouster at the hands of Sergiy Stakhovsky. Monfils has advanced this week with straight-set scalps of Tatsuma Ito and Vasek Pospisil. The world No. 42 is 32-19 for his 2013 campaign. Monfils’ defensive skills will test Federer’s questionable form and relative rust, but the 32-year-old should be able to build on what was a solid performance against Seppi.
Pick: Federer in 3
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(12) Kei Nishikori vs. (7) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
Nishikori and Tsonga will be doing battle for the third time in their careers and for the second time at this Shanghai tournament. They met during second-round action in 2011, when Nishikori advanced via a 6-7(1), 6-4, 6-4 decision. He improved to 2-0 lifetime against Tsonga with another deciding-set victory at the 2012 Australian Open (2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3).
Both players are in strong but unspectacular form at the end of seasons that have been productive but not amazing. Nishikori is 33-16 following a straight-set win over Grigor Dimitrov and a three-setter over Jurgen Melzer. Tsonga is 35-13 after kicking off his week by easing past Pablo Andujar 6-3, 6-2. The ninth-ranked Frenchman, who earned a first-round by as the No. 7 seed, may have just enough firepower on a hard court that is playing fast to avenge his previous setbacks against Nishikori.
Pick: Tsonga in 3
[polldaddy poll=7463161]
I wasn’t that impressed with Fed’s first match. He was okay, not great. Seppi didn’t take advantage of some opportunities. I think Fed will have to play better against Monfils. I voted for Fed in three sets.
Nishikori/Tsonga should be a good one. It should go three sets. I think this could go either way. I voted for Tsonga in three.
I’m relieved you saw it that way as well. The result was NID but it was an error strewn performance by Federer and Seppi was pushing him hard.
#MustDoBetter
Yes, we definitely agree on that one!
He will need to be a lot sharper against Monfils. He should be able to get the job done because Monfls is also rusty and can be relied upon to be erratic.
Federer in 3 with lst set TB
I don’t think I voted for any TB. Don’t ask me why. I would expect Fed to raise his level of play in this match. I think this is up next. I just have to decide if I want to stay up to see the end of it.
I might just do better watching the replay of the matches in the morning.
Yeah, if I were you I’d watch in the morning. Definitely not worth staying up for. Sleep well.
1 in 4 of Tsonga’s serves were aces. He will be relieved at that win – he needs every point he can pick up to stay in the RTL.
WaWa spotted courtside watching Federer.
Ferrer’s gone out to F.Mayer and Federer about to go out to Monfils. Can’t see Federer recovering from 1 set and 3-4 down in the 2nd set, but you never know.
Federer just had a massive wake-up call to break Monfils to level to 4-4
I am so over rooting for Fed, not worth the frustration……………
Here comes the TB.
Well, what do I know? Fed takes the 2nd set in a tiebreak.
good comeback by Fed to take the 2nd set. So want to see Fed vs Djokovic Quarters
This is La “Headcase” Mof for goodness’ sake…………..
So near yet so far. All over for Monfils now.
^^not with Fed making strange shot selection decisions like that…………LaMonf is on the rack, wheezing like a 100-year old smoker and Fed is not moving him around, bunting safe shots in instead………………
No way this Fed can hang with a Top-tenner…………..
Has Fed even said “c’mon”! once?
Gael is the clear favourite hear….huge challenge for fed…and here goes the break ! Fed’s foerhand is a joke now..
When will you learn not to jump the gun Ed?
I really didn’t think Gael would have enough left in the tank to make the third set competitive.
And why can’t Monfils tie his shoe-laces right? He’s always fiddling with them…..
Fed’s given up………….what else is new? He has no bottle………………
Fed has abs……….wrinkly ones albeit.
Fed never had a BH, now his FH’s gone, volleying’s gone, speed’s gone, shot selection’s a joke………..what exactly does he have left now?
That was a shocker of a line call and disgraceful apathy on the part of the umpire.
to be honest this is pitiful…I hope fed can raise his game here ! Go fed ! From being one of the greatest shots ever in tennis, his forehand is such a big liability at the moment….oh some help from monfils! 15-30
Monfils could still hand this to Roger on a plate. He’s running on sheer willpower – the tank is empty.
This is why Fed should be embarrassed. There is no way he should be losing to this Monfils…………
finally a good point from Fed! 15-40 and woahh, what a 2nd serve from gael
Can he, will he hold on long enough to clinch it?
Roger needs to use this service game to drain monfils ! haha…if he can do that, he’l have a chance in the next
I DO NOT want monfils to win here…how can he even compete against djoker with this fitness? and he did not spend any energy in this game. GO ROGER ! I hope gael loses 1st serves
Djoker will duff him up 0/0………what a joke……
Wow, just wow
Dreadful performance from federer but monfil’s serve saved it for him..both the 1st serves and 2nd serves won him free points..
DOes gael have anything left to compete against djoker? shud be easy 2 sets for the no.2 seed
Fed has never had bottle he just used to have matches handed to him on a plate. The commies are fooled by Monf’s fake fatigue which he has in common with Murray.
WTF????????????????
The relentless promotion of Federer has stalled.
This is why I can’t wait for Rafa to clinch the YE#1, so that he too can benefit from cup-cake draws like Djoker is…………….
Fed needs to retire and go sell rolexes and chocolate on the Home Shopping network…..
RT @bgtennisnation: “Big win for La Monf not sure that the Fedfans would have been ready to see Djoker next rd the way he is playing ATM”
Anyone who thinks Fed is ever gonna be ready to challenge the Big Boys needs their head examined………..
Face it, Fed’s dropping out of the Top 20 soon…………..
fed’s falling in a bottomless pit at the moment..the way back up the pit is getting tougher and tougher with every match
I like Fed in straight sets…he IS coming back!!!, and Tsonga in 3.
Rafa watching Fed/Seppi match:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B77l7GqfGHw&feature=player_embedded
^^^This clip just shows that Rafa is a breed apart. Won’t spoil the fun, just watch it.
now fed’s taking a beating in doubles….lost set 1 6-1
RT @christophclarey: “3, 39, 6, 5, 16, 5, 8, 116, 114, 55, 3, 22, 42 — Rankings of players who have beaten #Federer in 2013 http://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/monfils-beats-federer-in-shanghai-20131010-2vbsm.html …”
Scootd @ 10.54am
What match were you watching? It couldn’t be the same one the rest of us were watching. Fed was already a set down.
^^^ I’m sure he wasn’t watching and didn’t know it had started. He meant Fed is coming back as in, in general Federer’s form is coming back–not a in, he will come back in this match.
It’s obvious that Fed would have had zero chance against Djoker. He saved himself the embarrassment of having to get thumped. Monfils let down in the second set and Fed took advantage. But he just cannot keep up the higher level of play anymore.
Fed is really going downhill. I don’t know that there is any coming back from at this point. He could still have some good wins, but it’s clear that he is not at a level where he can challenge the other top players. Getting knocked out so early in Shanghai has to be just one more big disappointment and maybe a reality check.