Friday’s Stockholm quarterfinals will showcase a blockbuster meeting between Jerzy Janowicz and Ernests Gulbis. Fellow seeds Milos Raonic and Benoit Paire are also in action.
(3) Jerzy Janowicz vs. (5) Ernests Gulbis
Janowicz and Gulbis will be squaring off for the fifth time in their careers and for the third time at the ATP level when they collide in the quarterfinals of the If Stockholm Open on Friday. They have split their four previous encounters, including the two ATP showdowns. Janowicz, who has defeated Gulbis on clay and grass but is 0-2 in the series on hard courts or carpet, won their biggest match 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(2), 9-7 last summer in the Wimbledon second round. The 15th-ranked Pole had not played since the U.S. Open prior to this week due to a back injury, but his 6-2, 6-1 rout of Guillermo Garcia-Lopez on Wednesday is encouraging. It was Janowicz’s first victory since Montreal.
Suddenly consistent, Gulbis is 36-15 for the season after ousting Jeremy Chardy (in a third-set tiebreaker) and Igor Sijsling. The 26th-ranked Latvian owns a pair of 2013 titles–one earlier this fall in St. Petersburg. This matchup features similar playing styles of a huge serve complemented by one other major weapon (Gulbis’ backhand, Janowicz’s forehand) in addition to skillful touch around the net. Janowicz’s slightly bigger serve and generally superior service percentage, combined with his alacrity for pressure moments, should win him necessary free points and be the difference in what is sure to be competitive, down-to-the-wire affair.
Pick: Janowicz in 3
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(6) Benoit Paire vs. (2) Milos Raonic
Raonic played the villain role on Thursday, ending the run of 31-year-old Swede and sentimental favorite Joachim Johansson with a 6-2, 7-6(3) victory. That came following a first-round bye for the No. 2 seed and improved his season record to 44-19. Raonic has played especially well of late, with a title in Bangkok and a runner-up finish in Tokyo before a third-round performance at the Shanghai Masters.
Up next for the world No. 11 is a first-ever meeting with Paire. Paire’s spot in the quarterfinals came courtesy of twin 6-4, 6-4 dismissals of Santiago Giraldo and Pablo Carreno Busta. The 25th-ranked Frenchman is a decent 31-27 for the year, but this week marks the first time he has won back-to-back matches at an ATP tournament since Montreal. Paire has the talent to hang tough in this one, but an indoor hard court gives Raonic a big advantage. Additionally, Paire may have a mental breakdown watching his opponent win so many free points on serve.
Pick: Raonic in 2
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I think Gulbis is ready to make a big run, both this year and next, so I’m picking him, and I like paire in an upset.
It will be a question of whether Jerzy can recover from his outbursts. His meltdowns with umpires are for real. Gulbis’ are purely to rile the umpire.
Gulbis in 3
Agree with Ricky. Paire’s mental stability is questionable.
He might just manage to take the first set before losing the plot and succumbing to the phlegmatic Raonic and his killer serve.
Raonic in 3
What has happened to the Recent Comments index?
I’m looking out for that, too! It’s really helpful.
it’s working for me….
Jerzy just saved 2 BPs at 2-3 in the 3rd
It’s been broke since yesterday. It’s probably working for Ricky because it’s Ricky’s blog.
#WokeUpStillKing
It could go either way with Gulbis and Jerzy, depending on who can keep it together. Gulbis does sometimes decide to actually play some decent tennis and can win just when you thought he was done for the year. It’s a toss up for me, but for the sake of predictions I will pick Jerzy.
I think Ricky is right. Roanic in straight sets.
Jerzy had nothing left for the third set – he went down without a whimper. Overall it wasn’t the match we were anticipating.
Raonic-Paire aint gonna be straight sets – Paire has taken the first set.
Raonic always has an air of lethargy at the best of times but does anybody else agree he looks jaded tonight? The wear and tear of a long season is definitely showing.
On top of which Paire playing v. well
#DreadedRaceToLondonSyndrome
Paire serving for the match
Milos hopes for a WTF place have just taken a cold shower.
it was sort of even aside from one game with THREE double-faults
that being said, he barely got a SNIFF at the Gulbis serve in set three.
4-2 Gulbis
Raonic went out!
O/2 for Ricky ?
1/2 for me ?
2 for 2 for scootd!!!
On paper, Gulbis has a pretty decent road to his third trophy now, which probably means, he will take the nearest exit. Winning too many trophies could get boring.
^^^^That’s funny