Tokyo R2 previews and predictions: Cilic vs. Verdasco, Goffin vs. Vesely

Marin Cilic will continue his Tokyo campaign on Wednesday when he takes the court for second-round action against Fernando Verdasco. David Goffin and Jiri Vesely are also aiming for a place in the quarterfinals.

(4) Marin Cilic vs. Fernando Verdasco

Cilic and Verdasco will be squaring off for the 12th time in their careers when they clash in round two of the Rakuten Japan Open on Wednesday. The head-to-head series stands at 6-5 in favor of Cilic, who most recently cruised 6-3, 6-1 at this summer’s Cincinnati Masters. He has won four of their last five encounters dating back to the 2012 Shanghai Masters, with Verdasco’s lone victory during this stretch having come via a 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 6-3 decision on the clay courts of Madrid last spring.

Both players needed three sets to scrape through their Tokyo openers on Monday. Cilic held off Benoit Paire 6-0, 4-6, 6-3, improving his record for the season to a solid 37-18. The 11th-ranked Croat lost early at the U.S. Open to Jack Sock, but he bounced back to win to win two singles rubbers and the doubles match against France to lead his nation to the Davis Cup final. Verdasco began this week by beating qualifier Go Soeda 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-3. That was the 46th-ranked Spaniard’s first win since Winston-Salem, as he fell in round one at both the U.S. Open and St. Petersburg Open. Another relatively routine win should be in the cards for Cilic, who will likely be motivated by a possible berth in the World Tour Finals.

Pick: Cilic in 2

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Jiri Vesely vs. (5) David Goffin

Despite a recent slump, Goffin is still in outside contention for what would be a surprising ticket to the year-end championship in London. His 2016 campaign has been highlighted by back-to-back semifinal performances in Indian Wells and Miami to go along with a quarterfinal finish at Roland Garros. The 14th-ranked Belgian, though, is just 8-6 since the end of Wimbledon. He opened on Tuesday in Tokyo by rolling over Yoshihito Nishioka 7-5, 6-2.

Up next for the Goffin on Wednesday is a first-ever meeting with Vesely, who advanced on Tuesday with a 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 defeat of Kevin Anderson. In part due to a shoulder injury, the 52nd-ranked Czech has slumped just a bit since reaching the last 16 at Wimbledon and pushing Tomas Berdych to five sets. He is, however, coming off a quarterfinal showing in St. Petersburg (lost to Berdych again). Unless Vesely turns in an almost perfect serving performance to avoid baseline rallies, Goffin should have a slight edge.

Pick: Goffin in 3

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