An intriguing second-rounder on Wednesday in Shanghai pits Jack Sock against Fernando Verdasco. Bernard Tomic and Marcos Baghdatis are also aiming for a place in the quarterfinals.
(7) Jack Sock vs. Fernando Verdasco
Sock and Verdasco will be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers when they collide in round two of the If Stockholm Open on Wednesday. A 2015 campaign that got off to a late start for Sock but quickly took off in the right direction is nearing an end. It may result in 2016 Australian Open seeding, as the American currently registers right inside the cut line at No. 32 in the world. Sock, a recent quarterfinalist in Beijing, improved to 29-15 on the season by defeating Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-7(1), 6-3 on Tuesday.
Verdasco kicked off his week on Monday against another American, Denis Kudla, and cruised 6-4, 6-4. Thus ended a stretch of two straight first-round losses by the 44th-ranked Spaniard (in Tokyo and Shanghai). A relatively out-of-form Verdasco has not won more than two matches at a tournament since Wimbledon, where he advanced to the last 32. A far more confident Sock should not have too much trouble extending his opponent’s woes.
Pick: Sock in 2
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(4) Bernard Tomic vs. Marcos Baghdatis
Tomic owns an impressive 39 ATP-level match victories in 2015 and they have him up to a career-high ranking of 18th in the world, good enough for the No. 4 seed and a first-round bye in Stockholm. The 22-year-old is coming off a quarterfinal run in Shanghai, where he was the only competitor to push eventual champion Novak Djokovic to a tiebreaker.
Tomic’s opener will come on Wednesday against Baghdatis, who got past Sam Querrey 7-6(2), 6-1 during first-round action. The 46th-ranked Cypriot is wrapping up a mostly injury-free and somewhat resurgent 2015 campaign. He owns 24 ATP-level wins, finished runner-up to John Isner in Atlanta, and has currently advanced out of the first round in four consecutive tournaments. Unfortunately for Baghdatis, Tomic looks surprisingly motivated at the moment. As such, the Australian should have slight edge in the first career meeting between the two players.
Pick: Tomic in 3
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Taking Bernie in two tight ones though his unpredictability could be his downfall in this one. Also I’m taking sock to cruise through the erratic Verdasco in straights.
yep
Baghdatis won the 1st set 7-6(7).
M.Baghdatis defeated B.Tomic 7-6(7), 6 -3.
Björn Borg is watching:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CR2zV_sU8AA07cL.png
There’s my guy! 🙂
NNY: Thought of you and hoped you were watching and could see Borg in the audience. Looking rather dishy and distinguished too I thought 😉
Good match up between Sock and Nando with both playing well at the same time. Disappointed he didn’t get across the line – he was in too much of a hurry and rushed the last few games. Since him do that so often and lose matches. Sock could lose some weight and work on his fitness. For a young man he looked pretty knackered by the end of that match.
^^^2nd para: line 3
seen not since
To be honest I just done like Tomic, Hewitt has always been one of my least favorite players but I even rooted for Hewitt when he faced Tomic at the US Open.
i was there. awesome match.
Sock vs. Fernando one set all.
Sock won the match.
Watching my favourite Frenchie – the dishy Gilles Simon 😉
ed, there is no accounting for taste. 🙂
lol
Underrated player
Agree. At the top of his form he can hang with the best of them. He was derailed by Forget’s bullying tactics after a DC match some years back and took months to regain his confidence. Plus he is prone to injury.
ed,
I will get to see the match hopefully later on. The tennis channel has been showing Vienna, but Stockholm is on their schedule a bit later on. I know the result, but I still want to see Sock and get a good look at Borg!
Yes, he is still looking mighty fine! 🙂
Simon takes 1st set 6:2
Mayer takes an MTO at the change-over. Problem in the upper forearm.
Simon using his guile and maximising his chances to good effect. Gets the lst break of serve in the opening game of the 2nd set. This is only the second time these two have met and Mayer is getting more and more frustrated face to face with the human backboard.
Simon wins
For a country that has produced 3 former World #1s is there any reason why Sweden doesn’t even host a 500 series event? Bastad is 250 series Stockholm is also 250 series.
because nobody wants to go there?
^LOL! 🙂
NNY, Alex Zverev is now playing against Berdych, go watch him. Berdych leading now, first set 2-0, 30.0.