Gael Monfils and Nick Kyrgios will be part of the quarterfinal lineup on Friday in Tokyo. Monfils has a rematch of the Washington, D.C. final against Ivo Karlovic on his hands, while Kyrgios is facing Gilles Muller.
(7) Ivo Karlovic vs. (2) Gael Monfils
Monfils and Karlovic will be squaring off for the sixth time in their careers at the ATP level when they battle for a place in the semifinals of the Rakuten Japan Open on Friday. The head-to-head series stood at 2-2 before Monfils pulled ahead by surviving a thriller in the Washington, D.C. title match this summer. Karlovic served for the title in the second set and had not been broken the entire tournament, but Monfils managed to save one match point and eventually storm back for a 5-7, 7-6(6), 6-4 victory. Their only other hard-court encounter went even deeper into a third set, as Karlovic prevailed 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-6(2) at the 2009 Cincinnati Masters.
The biggest title of Monfils’ career (500 points in Washington, D.C.) is a big reason why he is currently in position for a berth in the World Tour Finals. Ensuing semifinal performances in Toronto and at the U.S. Open have also helped, and the eighth-ranked Frenchman is an awesome 42-12 for the season following straight-set wins in Tokyo over Yuichi Sugita and Gilles Simon. Also playing some of the best tennis of his career even though he is 37 years old, Karlovic is 27-17 for the 2016 campaign and up to No. 21 in the world. The 6’11” Croat is an amazing 18-4 since Wimbledon, with titles in Newport and Los Cabos. Not too surprisingly, all five of Karlovic’s sets this week have resulted in tiebreakers. He beat Federico Delbonis 7-6(6), 6-7(6), 7-6(5) before getting the best of Janko Tipsarevic 7-6(9), 7-6(5) on Thursday. Look for Karlovic to avenge his recent setback against Monfils by surviving a few more ‘breakers.
Pick: Karlovic in 3
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(6) Nick Kyrgios vs. Gilles Muller
Kyrgios will be playing for the first time since Monday when he takes the court for quarterfinal action on Friday afternoon. The 21-year-old Australian defeated qualifier Ryan Harrison 7-5, 6-2 and then got a walkover from an injured Radek Stepanek. Kyrgios surely won’t mind any help he can get along the way to a productive week, as he is coming off a third-round U.S. Open retirement (hip injury) and and opening loss in Chengdu to Kevin Anderson.
Up next for the No. 6 seed is a first-ever meeting with Muller, who punched his ticket to the last eight by beating Tomas Berdych and Marcos Baghdatis in straight sets. The 33-year-old Luxembourgian is a stellar 31-20 for the season, a record that has him back up to 36th in the rankings–just two spots off his career high. This may, however, be a tough matchup for Muller. Kyrgios can match him in the department of huge serving and the world No. 15 is an expert at using a short backswing on his service return to block back booming serves coming in his direction.
Pick: Kyrgios in 2
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who ya got?
Muller in three and Monfils in two
Karlovic is the new Isner.
Meet the new pox. Same as the old pox.
Hawkie on a roll.
Alez Gael! in 3. In 2 would be better.
Kyrgios in 2 or Muller in 3. Voted for Kyrgios. But I’m disappointed in Nick lately.
Kyrgios in 2
Monfils in 3 (Close Match)
Monfils in 3 with two tie breakers perhaps and a break somewhere in the third…
Going for NK though I’m not sure he will match Muller in the aces department should do so from the back of the court and some rallies he can get in to
I’m declaring Underdog Friday:
Muller and Ivo both in 3 — maybe no reason, maybe because they’re both “old guys” playing the best tennis of their lives.
Monfils in three.
On the fence for the other one..
I’ll go Muller in three as NK can go off the boil.