Predicted Winners in BOLD
Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) v [4] Tomas Berdych (CZE) – Agut had a great Australian Open run. Berdych is playing very solid tennis at the moment. This is not a great draw for either man, but I think form holds as Berdych wins in 2 close sets.
[6] Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) v Feliciano Lopez (ESP) – If JMDP’s wrist holds up, I think he should win this match.
Julien Benneteau (FRA) v [9] Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) – I am going to take Benneteau in a minor upset. This is a terrible draw for Tsonga as Benneteau is talented and already has a match under his belt. This is a 50-50 match in my mind so I will call for an upset.
Victor Hanescu (ROU) v [2] Novak Djokovic (SRB) – Nole needs a good result here or in Miami. I expect he gets back on track (by his standards) in California.
Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) v [12] John Isner (USA) – Big server versus a past his prime great returner. The size differential between these two players is stark, but it goes to show that tennis produces diverse players. I will cautiously take Isner to win.
[8] Richard Gasquet (FRA) v Teymuraz Gabashvili (RUS) – This is not an easy match for the at times erratic Gasquet. Still, I will take Gasquet to advance.
[15] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) v Robin Haase (NED) – Dimitrov seems poised for a big 2014. I could see Haase winning, but Grigor is the favorite to be sure.
[Q] Paolo Lorenzi (ITA) v [24] Marin Cilic (CRO) – To my surprise, Cilic has played top 10 tennis in 2014.
[22] Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) v Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE) – Kohlschreiber has one wicked backhand.
Joao Sousa (POR) v [20] Ernests Gulbis (LAT) – Picking both Gulbis and Gasquet to advance on the same day has me going against previous rules on erratic players.
Horacio Zeballos (ARG) v [30] Fernando Verdasco (ESP) – Hot Sauce has been a little mild as of late.
[26] Florian Mayer (GER) v Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) – I’d love to pick the veteran lefty, but I can’t.
[21] Gilles Simon (FRA) v [Q] Dominic Thiem (AUT) – Simon is one of my favorites so take this pick with a grain of salt.
Tennis Abides: Dan Martin on Tennis and Life 