Three of tennis’ up and comers – David Goffin, Dominic Thiem and Borna Coric- are in action at the ATP 250 Open 13 event in Marseille on Thursday. The event offers valuable points and prize money for three players in the process of making a name for themselves on the ATP Tour. The Tennis Review previews the day’s second round action.
Dominic Thiem Vs David Goffin (6).
This match up really hit the spot back at the Kitzbuhel Open final last August when Goffin beat Thiem in three sets. Two of tennis’ most attractive games, and very likely ones to feature prominently on the big stages in the future, will come up against each other for the fourth time in a series which Goffin commands 3-0.
Goffin has gone from strength to strength since last Summer and the Tennis Review asked what hew would do next after a string of success at Challenger and ATP 250 level. He answered by making the ATP 500 Basel final and the ATP 250 Chennai semis (lost to eventual champion Wawrinka)and is now a top 20 player.
Thiem, who made his first Grand slam last sixteen appearance at the 2014 U.S Open, is ranked 48, dropping from a high of 36 last September, and his progress has been impaired a little by army service and illness. He is 1-3 on the year, and his one win was over training partner and friend Ernests Gulbis, a result it is hard to read much from.
Prediction: Goffin’s all court game and touch is well suited to indoor conditions and he should win this in two sets.
Gilles Simon (5) Vs Borna Coric (WC).
Coric took advantage of a rusty Rafael Nadal at the Basel indoors late last season and made a name for himself in the process as he broke into the ATP top 100 where he now sits at a career high of 85. The 18 year old has the aggressive baseline skills needed to succeed year round on the ATP tour and is keen to prove himself.
He will have his hands full with Simon, one of the game’s best defenders and a player who has injected some aggression into his game recently. The change has had good effect- the Frenchman beat Andy Murray for the first time in 13 matches at last week’s Rotterdam event.
Coric, meanwhile, has struggled to deliver on the promise he showed late last season. He is 1-4 in 2015 and has won only one set in his four losses.
Coric will have to come up with something special against Simon, who will be feeling confident and has all the experience in the world to make life difficult for a player struggling to establish himself early on in the season.
Prediction: Simon wins in straight sets.
Stan Wawrinka (2) Vs Benoit Paire.
These two old friends will have been seeing more of each other on twitter recently than on the court as Paire has fallen from a career high of 24 in August 2013 to 121.
The last time they did face off proved to be quite spectacular as Wawrinka beat Paire in three tough sets in Toronto, needing a final set tiebreaker to get the win and extend his head to head over Paire to 3-1.
See Paire’s talent on display in the clip below from his Toronto clash with Wawrinka last season.
This season Wawrinka has won two titles, including one last week in Rotterdam, and been to the Australian Open semis, racking up a 13-1 win-loss record. Meanwhile Paire has won a Futures event and a Challenger and won 1 match on the ATP Tour.
Prediction: Wawrinka may bring out the best in the enigmatic Paire once more but should get the match won in two, though playing his close friend might prove to be too emotional and another roller-coaster could be on the cards.
Jeremy Chardy Vs Ernests Gulbis (3).
Gulbis is the defending champion, but has been having a terrible run of form since injuring himself at last year’s U.S Open. Chardy meanwhile, ranked 35, is one of the tour’s most consistent players week in week out, is capable of the big upset (Federer Italian Open ’14; del Potro Australian Open ’13) and has the experience to take advantage of an out of sorts Gulbis.
The Latvian is a confidence player and a streaky player, too, however, and memories of his 2014 Open 13 win, and his 3-1 head to head lead over Chardy will serve to help him go for his shots and hit though the fast courts. But while his heart may be there, his game, rusty as it is, is unlikely to be.
Prediction: The world No. 13 is 0-3 in 2015 and is unlikely to make it 1-3 in his match against the talented and experienced Chardy. The Frenchman to get the upset in three sets.
Commentary by Christian Deverille
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