Predicted Winners in BOLD

I don’t think this match will be as close as their 2015 Monte Carlo tilt

[1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs [7] Tomas Berdych (CZE) – Novak Djokovic will have to play 4 consecutive days prior to getting a day off if he reaches the championship match.  This is day 3 of this run.  I think Novak is comfortable facing Berdych and knows winning in a straightforward manner will help his chances for winning on Friday.  I like Novak to win in straight sets with only one set being particularly close.

Novak Djokovic d. Tomas Berdych 6-4, 7-5, 6-2

[12] David Goffin (BEL) vs [13] Dominic Thiem (AUT) – Thiem trails their head-to-head 2-4 and one of his 2 wins came from a mid-match retirement by Goffin.  Having said that, Thiem has had a great 52 week run on clay including a win over Goffin in their most recent clay court match.  I think Thiem’s overall game is more well-rounded than Goffin’s, but Goffin’s ability to take the ball early generates discomfort for the opposition.  So it is a pick your poison type match.  Is the younger, more well-rounded player going to win?  Is the guy whose style steals time from his opponents going to win?  I think Novak would prefer to face Thiem as his game is not heavy enough as of yet to pressure Novak a great deal.  Something about Goffin’s game has pressured Novak in Cincinnati 2015 and Miami 2016.  So I think Novak gets a little good news.  Dominic Thiem d. David Goffin 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4  To be fully honest, I have gone back and forth on this match so many times that I could see it plausibly going any number of directions.