Predicted Winners in BOLD
1 Novak Djokovic vs. Nicolas Devilder – Faustian bargain or not for Nicolas, I think Djokovic will overcome the diminutive Devilder in 3 sets.
22 Andreas Seppi vs. 14 Fernando Verdasco – I think Verdasco is favored, but Verdasco, like Gasquet, can lose when no one would expect it. Seppi is good enough to hang around and grind out a win unless Verdasco is mentally sharp.
11 Gilles Simon vs. 18 Stanislas Wawrinka – I think Simon in France finds a way. Wawrinka could overpower Gilles, but my guess is Simon grinds and retrieves enough shots to draw out errors from the #2 Swiss.
Fabio Fognini vs. 5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – It is odd for Tsonga to be seeded so highly, but he really piled up points from the outset of the grass court season in 2011 through the season finale in London. I am torn as I think Tsonga could lose here.
3 Roger Federer vs. Nicolas Mahut – Fed’s draw to the round of 16 looked somewhat tough, but the path has cleared. Federer wins in a routine match.
David Goffin vs. Lukasz Kubot – (Honestly, did anyone pick these two to meet?) I was going to pick Goffin here, but he did play the qualifying draw and his legs may be shot. Both have a great chance to reach the final 16.
9 Juan Martin del Potro vs. 21 Marin Cilic – As I said earlier, Delpo has a mental edge against Cilic.
31 Kevin Anderson vs. 7 Tomas Berdych – Outside of the top 3 seeds, Berdych and Delpo are the next most likely players to hold the trophy when the clay settles.
