Tennis 10sBalls Shares Ricky’s Rotterdam Daily: Monfils Ousts Goffin, Raonic vs. Wawrinka On Wednesday

Belgium’s David Goffin reacts during his first round match against Gael Monfils of France at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, Netherlands, 12 February 2019. EPA-EFE/REMKO DE WAAL

 

 

By Ricky Dimon

 

Gael Monfils continued his fine form by taking out No. 8 seed David Goffin 7-6(5), 7-5 at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament on Tuesday afternoon. Monfils, a semifinalist last week in Sofia, recovered from a break down–and from a nasty fall–in the second set to prevail after one hour and 46 minutes. The Frenchman is joined round two by Milos Raonic, Tomas Berdych, Denis Shapovalov, Ernests Gulbis, and Fernando Verdasco. Gulbis won an all-lucky loser battle with Marius Copil 6-2, 6-4.

 

In doubles, Rajeev Ram teamed up with Joe Salisbury to upset No. 2 seeds Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo 6-4, 7-6(2).

 

Ricky takes a look at the draw, the seeds, and Day 3:

 

Draw

(1) Kei Nishikori vs.
(SE) Pierre-Hugues Herbert

(LL) Ernests Gulbis…..defeated Copil

Martin Klizan vs.
Marton Fucsovics

(9) Nikoloz Basilashvili…..defeated Chung

(4) Milos Raonic…..defeated Kohlschreiber
(WC) Stan Wawrinka…..defeated Paire

(WC) Tomas Berdych…..defeated Simon…..vs. Shapovalov
(10) Denis Shapovalov…..defeated Skugor…..vs. Berdych

Gael Monfils…..defeated Goffin…..vs. Seppi
Andreas Seppi…..defeated Gojowyvz…..vs. Monfils

Mikhail Kukushkin…..defeated Haase

Damir Dzumhur vs.
(3) Stefanos Tsitsipas

(5) Daniil Medvedev vs.
Jeremy Chardy

Fernando Verdasco…..defeated Ebden

(PR) Jo-WIlfried Tsonga vs.
(Q) Thomas Fabbiano

(WC) Tallon Griekspoor vs.
(2) Karen Khachanov

 

Seeds

1) Kei Nishikori: R1 vs. Herbert
2) Karen Khachanov: R1 vs. Griekspoor
3) Stefanos Tsitsipas: R1 vs. Dzumhur
4) Milos Raonic: R2 vs. Wawrinka
5) Daniil Medvedev: R1 vs. Chardy
6) Lucas Pouille: WITHDREW
7) Roberto Bautista Agut: WITHDREW
8) David Goffin: lost R1 to Monfils
9) Nikoloz Basilashvili: R2 vs. either Klizan or Fucsovics
10) Denis Shapovalov: R2 vs. Berdych

 

Day 3

(4) Milos Raonic vs. (WC) Stan Wawrinka

Wawrinka leads the head-to-head series 4-3, but they faced each other at each of the past two majors and Raonic prevailed on both occasions–winning 7-6(6), 6-4, 6-3 at the U.S. Open and 6-7(4), 7-6(6), 7-6(11), 7-6(5) at the Australian Open. Tiebreakers were the theme of their only previous indoor showdown, as well, which also took place in Rotterdam–with Wawrinka getting the job 7-6(3), 7-6(7) during 2015 semifinal action. Raonic is 7-2 this season, giving him a clear edge in current form.

 

(WC) Tomas Berdych vs. (10) Denis Shapovalov

Like Wawrinka, Berdych is making his way back from an injury-plagued 2018. The 33-year-old’s comeback has gotten off to a stellar start, as he already boasts 11 match victories in 2019. Berdych finished runner-up in Doha, reached the fourth round in Melbourne, and advanced to the semis last week in Montpellier. He may be the underdog according to ranking, but the surface and current form likely give him an edge.

 

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @Dimonator.