Shanghai Rolex Masters
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. Dominic Thiem: According to Thiem, this will be “mega difficult.” That’s probably an understatement considering Djokovic’s record in Asia. Djokovic in 2.
Vasek Pospisil vs. (14) Roberto Bautista Agut: If Djokovic-Thiem is 95 percent in the Serb’s favor (in Thiem’s words), Pospisil vs. RBA may be the most 50-50 match of the entire day. RBA dominated 6-2, 6-2 this spring in Monte-Carlo, but that was on clay when Pospisil was a shadow of what he is now. Pospisil in 3.
(11) Andy Murray vs. Jerzy Janowicz: Speaking of rematches, Murray overcame Janowicz 6-7(9), 6-4, 6-2 last week in Beijing. This one won’t be as competitive, in part because Janowicz had only two double-faults in three sets vs. Edouard Roger-Vasselin on Tuesday and is thus due for about 15 vs. Murray. Murray in 2.
(3) Roger Federer vs. Leonardo Mayer: Mayer got to play a Chinese wild card in the first round. This is where the Argentine’s favorable draw ends. Federer in 2.
Gilles Simon vs. (4) Stan Wawrinka: Wawrinka lost his Tokyo opener to Tatsuma Ito in straight sets. Simon lost one game in his last two sets against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez on Tuesday. Sound the upset alert. Simon in 3.
(WC) Chuhan Wang vs. (Q) Malek Jaziri: It is always tough to turn in a repeat performance immediately following a career-defining win. And yes, for someone ranked 553rd in the world, beating Fognini is a career-defining win. Jaziri in 2.
(6) Tomas Berdych vs. Richard Gasquet: Gasquet destroyed Berdych 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 last month in Davis Cup. But that came in France and on clay. This one is not in France and not on clay. Berych in 2.
Jack Sock vs. (7) Kei Nishikori: At 100 percent, Nishikori would obviously win this one–especially in Asia. But he has reached three straight finals, finishing runner-up at the U.S. Open and winning both Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo. That’s too much tennis for someone so fragile. Sock in 3.
(10) Grigor Dimitrov vs. Julien Benneteau: If a Benneteau title watch can ever be called “off” following a win, it’s when he beats a Chinese wild card in three sets in a loaded Masters 1000 draw. Facing Dimitrov doesn’t help. Dimitrov in 2.
(8) Milos Raonic vs. (WC) Juan Monaco: This was a great matchup in 2012, back when Monaco was near if not in his prime and Raonic was not yet in his (the Argentine won a five-setter at the U.S. Open). Now it is an absolute mismatch. Raonic in 2.
Feliciano Lopez vs. (2) Rafael Nadal: As if he didn’t already have enough problems, Nadal has appendicitis and arguably should not even be playing. If he does take the court, this is a great opportunity for Lopez–already a two-time Shanghai semifinalist. Lopez in 3.
Ivan Dodig vs. Mikhail Youzhny: Dodig and Youzhny are a combined 27-39 at the ATP level this season. Out of pretty much nowhere, one will be in the third round of a Masters 1000 event. Dodig in 3.
(13) John Isner vs. Steve Johnson: Their only previous encounter went to a third-set tiebreaker. It would be borderline surprising if this one does not. It would be surprising if Isner loses two straight third-set ‘breakers to the same opponent. Isner in 3.
(SE) Martin Klizan vs. (5) David Ferrer: If Klizan beat Nadal, he will beat Ferrer–right? Well, not when you consider Nadal’s current state and the current time of year. This won’t be easy, but Ferrer is starving for a win and anything else is not an option if the Spaniard wants a London spot. Ferrer in 3.
[polldaddy poll=8358182]
[polldaddy poll=8358185]
I’ve got Nishikori, Nadal and Klizan all winning. Agree with you on all the others.
Klizan? wow.
#Bandwagon
I shouldn’t have strayed from your picks with those three! Klizan had Daveed in the bag and let him go though. So close, but no cigar
i was ALL OVER today’s picks
Will the real Slim Ricky please stand up, please stand up, please stand up!
Well I just hope that you not comparing your Wawa losing to Simon pick to your Wawa making the quarters.
Don’t you?
Or do you.
But I think this makes more sense to pick Simon.
Sock in three over Nishi? No. Nishi is the pick (until he proves otherwise, especially against Blake, I mean Sock).
I will pick Klizan-Virus and stick with Rafa too.
Bit too bold with your predictions there Hawkeye. Ricky stole a march on you today 😉
Poor Thiem. Mega-difficult is right. But, I like his attitude and I’m sure when he writes a summary of the match, as he does with most of them, he’ll appreciate the learning experience. After watching Simon against GGL, I think he has a good chance against Stan, so I agree with that pick, too. If Rafa’s not too weakened, he could still pull out a victory. I don’t think Sock will beat Kei. Kei might even take it in two. His ROS can neutralize Sock’s serve. Berd vs Gasquet: This one could go either way, I think. Their h2h is 6-4 in Gasquet’s favor and they’ve met on all surfaces except grass. I don’t think either one of them will be too demoralized by the respective beatings they took last week, as both of those were match-up issues against opponents who routinely beat them. Too close to call for me.
My thoughts. I think it may well be Murray again in three sets. I am not sure that he’s going to be able to do it in two. But I do think he will get the win. Of course I agree with Novak, also Pospisil and Fed predictions.
I am going back and forth with Stan and Simon. But I have decided to go with Ricky’s prediction of Simon in three. Berdy should beat Gasquet.
However, I do think that Nishi is going to beat Sock. I think Nishi’s got enough left to get it done. I do agree with Dimitrov, Raonic, Dodig and Isner predictions.
I will go with Klizan over Ferrer in three.
Finally, if Rafa does play then I think he will get the win.
All tree-setters are close calls. I also picked Sock hoping Nishikori would pull out last minute.
Hope this is the end of Rafa!s misfortunes. These things are sent to try us.
good for the game if it is
WaWa being very aggressive and his serve is on song today. Out muscling the human backboard to take the first set.
down a break in the second
Allez Simon!
Via @TennisInsideOut
While waiting in tunnel for Stan Wawrinka, Simon got a handshake from Rafa. 🙂
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BzZnfloCMAA3pRQ.jpg
Rafa was probably wishing him good luck to send Stan packing.
Rafa’s handshake worked. Gilles wins in 3.
Simon v. Wawrinka = Gallic charm versus a personality bypass
@ed251137, you are evil! Thanks for making me laugh……….
Sorry can’t help it sometimes in spite of my resolve
?? ?
Stan sent to Wawaland by Simon.
Chapeau Gillou. As one of the commies said: that takes some of the gloss off WaWa.
That should put paid to all the hype. They are finally coming round to what we all were thinking the whole year.
Andy has a lot of support in Shanghai. Attendance so far has been really patchy for almost all the matches. Even Nishikori arrived to a half empty Stadium court.
The trouble is the tournaments take place during working hours, which makes it difficult for people to attend. When I was in Dubai, I had tickets for the ATP tournament which was the week after the WTA. Watching the WTA on TV, I noticed that they were playing to empty stadiums and so I rang the Dubai Duty Free to buy tickets and they said they were sold out but people only attended after work.
Benneteau up a set and a break on Dimitrov.
And Benny beats Dimitrov in straight sets.
Theim is playing far better than Berdy did against Djoker on Sunday. Berdych just didn’t show up, imo.
^^^^Agreed. He never appears to be fazed when he’s up against top players and he has a lot of weapons to give them a run for their money.
Real Deal.
Real deal, your ass.
Loses in straights to a six-slam champion compared to beating a 14-slam GOAT at Wimbledon?
#YouSerious?
Oh, go away @hawkeye63………..I’m watching a tennis match. Go share a $1000-00 lunch with your boy in Alice Springs…..
The number of times it’s been mentioned during the past few weeks by the commentators one might be forgiven for thinking Djokovic is the first tennis player on the ATP circuit to get married and for his wife to be pregnant.
#BigDeal
Djoker left his God-Mode in the locker room because Theim is giving him a run for his money even if he wins eventually.
Vamos Rafa!
Koenig says his appendix burst while on a flight from Auckland to Johannesburg, says it was the worst pain he has ever experienced……….
Raonic has withdrawn.
So Raonic won’t be beating Rafa then, eh Ricky?
Vamos Pico!!
I can vouch for that. Mine burst during the night but i managed to crawl on my hands and knees to a neighbour at 5.am. who got me to hospital. They told me afterwards another 20 minutes later and they wouldn’t have been able to save my life. Also I was worrying he will have a long haul flight to get home and that the airline might not even let him fly in his condition. They don’t like having to divert with a critically ill passenger.
I think we can safely say Rafa is not critically ill.
Nor in immediate danger of being critically ill I should say. Still, he should get that thing out sooner rather than later. But he might as well wait till after the tour finals, as long as it’s properly treated medically it poses no imminent danger to his health.
I’m not enjoying the match because I know the result. Still Rafa has made a good few passing shots and has only dropped his serve once.
Mayer has the game to beat Fed, if he really wants it…………..
choked
Impressive Ricky!! Berdy is the only top 10 seed remaining in his draw and he’s still going to lose before the SF. #Vamospico
No Fed, no……………do not take your shirt off, please. This is a family programme………..
So I think it’s safe to say Federer took the scenic route past Mayer…
[polldaddy poll=8360880]