A quarterfinal spot in Winston-Salem will be at stake when Roberto Bautista Agut faces Marcos Baghdatis on Wednesday. Another all-seeded affair in the third round pits Sam Querrey against Viktor Troicki.
(14) Marcos Baghdatis vs. (2) Roberto Bautista Agut
Bautista Agut and Baghdatis will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers when they collide in round three of the Winston-Salem Open on Wednesday. Their only previous meeting came earlier this season on the hard courts of Dubai, where Baghdatis coasted to a 7-5, 6-0 victory. The Cypriot is still going relatively strong at 31 years old and a decent finish to 2016 could see him seeded at next season’s Australian Open. Ranked 44th in the world, Baghdatis is 20-16 on the year following a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 defeat of Donald Young on Tuesday.
Aljaz Bedene pushed Bautista Agut to three sets, as well, but the Spaniard ended up getting the job done 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. Although he has cooled off since a torrid start to the season, Bautista Agut still boasts an outstanding 35-15 record that includes two titles and a recent quarterfinal performance at the Rio Olympics. His recent inconsistency was once again on display last week in Cincinnati, where the world No. 17 threw away his momentum from Rio with an opening 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-3 loss to Nicolas Mahut. This is a good opportunity for Baghdatis reach 2-0 in the head-to-head series against Bautista Agut.
Pick: Baghdatis in 3
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(6) Sam Querrey vs. (9) Viktor Troicki
Querrey’s 2016 summer is almost certainly going to be defined by a stunning upset of Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon third round, but the American will be hoping to close it out in style with stellar performances in Winston-Salem and at the U.S. Open. He got off to a victorious start this week by edging Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-3, 6-7(5), 7-5 during second-round action on Tuesday. Soon to be seeded in New York thanks to his quarterfinal run at the All-England Club, Querrey is 28-19 for the season with a title in Delray Beach.
Up next for Querrey on Wednesday is a fifth career showdown against Troicki, and it is a proverbial rubber match given that the head-to-head series stands at 2-2. They have not faced each other since a 2013 Davis Cup rubber, in which Querrey benefited from home-court advantage in the United States to prevail 7-6(1), 3-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. Troicki advanced through the Winston-Salem second round by taking care of Kyle Edmund 6-3, 7-5, a result that halted a five-match losing streak for the Serb dating back to Wimbledon. A considerable edge in current form goes to Querrey, who should treat the fans to a mostly routine win.
Pick: Querrey in 2
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WWW?
Not sure why you think Sam will have a routine match when he almost lost today.
Bautista Agut in 3
Querrey in 3
I’m not sure I’d say he has a considerable edge in current form losing to Cuevas last week and Giraldo in Los Cabos.
considerable yes. Huge no.
con·sid·er·a·ble
kənˈsid(ə)rəb(ə)l/
adjective
notably large in size, amount, or extent.
“a position of considerable influence”
Don’t you? Or do you.
he was tired and didn’t care much in Los Cabos
But yeah, I’m with Reeeeshard Dimon.
The Q-Tip on home soil in two. I mean, seriously, it’s just Troicki.
Querrey and baghdatis in three
How do you know was tired. What is this didn’t care much business, how do you know he didn’t care, why play if you don’t care.
It would not surprise me at all if Troicki wins, Sam isn’t near top form and Viktor is more formidable than GGL, that’s just the fact of the matter.
no it isn’t
Are you seriously going to tell me GGL is better than Viktor, give me a break.
Both guys are playing way worse than Querrey that’s the bottom line. Don’t ask me how Querrey almost lost to GGL lol. Maybe Sam has cooled off but his confidence is still much higher than Troicki’s which is key for a player like Sam.
definitely more dangerous. Not better.
@tennishead.
F#cken right on man, i was thinking the same thing this am.
Querrey lookin crap.
And yeh how the F would u know Ricky if he didnt care, thats total bs from you.
Predictions been crap man, no offence lol
What he’s saying is Querrey may not have had as much motivation at an ATP 250 event in Mexico compared to the other bunch of hard court US tournies he had to play this summer and in the back of his mind maybe wanted to conserve some energy and may not have been as determined to find a way to win his match with Giraldo there.
Benny.
Just read what you said.
Dont u think thats a bit of a far-fetched, let me read your palm, i’m a mind reader reasoning. Like ar you bff’s with him to know that.
I think not. I’m just going off stats. I think stats are a bit more realistic than guessing or assuming things like that.
End rant.
Well look what happened, Sam lost in straights, so yeah, you should not have underestimated Viktor and Sam is not in good form.
So who are your quarterfinal picks?
not at all surprising. It’s the week before a slam. Complete crapshoot.
you got that right!
Exactly. If these two play at the U.S. Open Querrey wins that in four in my mind.
yep