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.
Tennis Abides: Dan Martin on Tennis and Life 
Love your blog, Dan.
your picks, are good. and I agree about Seppi having a chance and Fognini for a possible upset. however as a fogna follower, he really isn’t as fit or sharp as he was the past 2 years. But he loves FO and gets his best results there. Look at 2010: Fognini beat Monfils after a prior 5 set match with someone (i forget) and 2011 he beat Montanes in 5, then famously gave Djokovic a walkover. I wouldn’t bet on Fognini, Tsonga, Gasquet, Verdasco, or Seppi. ha! Although at the start I picked Gasquet to the quarters, and Verdasco to lose to Djokovic, Tsonga losing to Simon.
Also think Cilic has a very good chance. I’m believing Cilic is truly out of his slump and is mentally strong again like he was in 2009. Delpo v Cilic will be interesting.
Simon. I don’t know now. Harrison wasn’t easy and Baker put up a fight. Simon has had it tough
Yeah, Federer and Djokovic should breeze through; Berdych too.
I happen to love Kubot and hope his experience gets him through. But I’ve had an eye on “the Goffin” for awhile. If he was a bit taller and bigger, wow. But he’s good. I was tempted to pick Goffin for a round. Got PHM right over Isner!
I don’t know Jaziri. But I picked Granollers to go 3 rounds, beating PHM.
cheers.
Thanks for the great comments and insights. I think we are in an era where yes 3 or 4 guys have separated themselves from the field, but the field is really good and a lot of upsets can occur that are not really upsets. It should be a great day of tennis tomorrow.
yes! and I have the day off! I will be up watching live from FO on ESPN2 and listening to Radio Rolland Garos! As you know from my posts on tennis-x, I love tennis beyond watching the big 3-4 : )
The tour is a great place full of talented players with interesting personal stories. I think it is a golden age not just because of the big 3. So yeah I love your posts on tennis-x