RICKY’S THURSDAY MATCH PICKS, DJOKOVIC AND FEDERER AIM FOR SHANGHAI QUARTERFINALS

Written by: Staff on 8th October 2014

RICKY'S THURSDAY MATCH PICKS, DJOKOVIC AND FEDERER AIM FOR SHANGHAI QUARTERFINALS

epa04436854 Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts durng his second round match against Austria's Dominic Thiem at the Shanghai Tennis Masters in Shanghai, China, 08 October 2014. EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL |

By Ricky Dimon

Rafael Nadal and a whole host of other seeds are out, but the third-round schedule at the Shanghai Rolex Masters is still an intriguing one. A showdown between Andy Murray and David Ferrer is among the eight matches on Thursday, while Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are also aiming for spots in the quarterfinals.

Thursday’s third-round lineup:

(1) Novak Djokovic vs. Mikhail Kukushkin: Dominic Thiem lost 6-3, 6-4 to Djokovic in the second round and was “absolutely satisfied” with his performance while calling Djokovic’s tennis “noble.” If Thiem played well and still managed only seven games, what can anyone expect from Kukushkin? Not a lot, to be sure, if the Serb continues to play “noble” tennis. Djokovic in 2.

(11) Andy Murray vs. (5) David Ferrer: These two have not faced each other since the infamous “Heidi” match in 2013, when CBS cut away from their third-set tiebreaker in the Miami final to show golf. Tennis Channel will have no such problem, nor will this one go to a third-set tiebreaker. In his current state, Ferrer would only have a chance in this matchup on clay. Murray in 2.

Andy Murray of Great Britain in action during his men’s singles semi-final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the China Open tennis tournament at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, China, 04 October 2014. EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG

David Ferrer of Spain hits a return to Gilles Simon of France during the seventh day of the 2014 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 31 August 2014. The US Open runs through 08 September, a 15-day schedule. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT

(3) Roger Federer vs. (14) Roberto Bautista Agut: Not one, not two, not three, not four…. That’s right; Federer saved five match points against Leonardo Mayer on Wednesday. The guy has been known to blow match points against Djokovic, but against everyone else these days he is saving them (remember the U.S. Open quarterfinals?). Federer in 3.

Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts during his second round match against Leonardo Mayer of Argentina at the Shanghai Tennis Masters in Shanghai, China, 08 October 2014. EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL

Julien Benneteau vs. Jack Sock: Benneteau’s title watch is most definitely on. He’s only a third of the way there, of course, but he will be half of the way there if he can win an all-unseeded clash with Sock on Thursday. Popsocks lost a tough one in doubles on Wednesday, so it remains to be seen if the American can recover in time for this one. After all, he really doesn’t like it when Popsocks loses. Benneteau in 2.

(6) Tomas Berdych vs. Ivo Karlovic: If this was a Tweeting tournament, Berdych-Karlovic would be worthy of a final. Berdych would undoubtedly win, but Karlovic would give the Czech a run for his money in the comedy department. In a tennis tournament, it’s right where it belongs in the third round. Berdych has lost the last four sets between these two big hitters, all in tiebreakers. He’s due. Berdych in 3.

Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic reacts during his men’s singles final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the China Open tennis tournament at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, China, 05 October 2014. EPA/ROLEX DELA PENA

(Q) Malek Jaziri vs. Gilles Simon: If you’re wondering what Simon is doing in the third round of a Masters 1000 event, well, he is one of the most underrated players on tour. If you’re wondering what Jaziri is doing in the third round of a Masters 1000 event, well, he was in Fabio Fognini’s section of the draw. Simon in 2.

(WC) Juan Monaco vs. Mikhail Youzhny: The last two meetings between these two veterans have been as competitive as possible, with Youzhny prevailing 6-4 in the fifth and then 9-7 in a third-set tiebreaker. On Wednesday the Russian won a thriller against Ivan Dodig 7-6(7), 6-7(4), 6-3. Are we sensing a trend here? Count on Youzhny giving his military salute after a long baseline war of attrition. Youzhny in 3.

(13) John Isner vs. Feliciano Lopez: Isner and Lopez have a decent bromance going on Twitter, but all pleasantries will be put aside for a match as big as this one. Not only is a Masters 1000 quarterfinal at stake, but the draw has opened up for both guys thanks to Lopez’s upset of Nadal and Milos Raonic’s retirement versus Monaco. Isner in 3.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Andy Murray, David Ferrer, Ivo Karlovic, jack sock, John Isner, Juan Monaco, Julien Benneteau, Mikhail Kukushkin, Novak Djokovic, Rafa, Ricky Dimon, Roberto Bautista Agut, Roger Federer, Shanghai, Shanghai Rolex Masters, Tennis, Tennis News, Tomas Berdych

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10sBalls_com says:

October 8, 2014 at 7:44 pm

@RD_Tennistalk’s THURSDAY MATCH PICKS, @DjokerNole AND @rogerfederer AIM FOR #SHANGHAI QUARTE… http://t.co/W1VLYfueIq #tennis #ATPShanghai
RD_Tennistalk says:

October 8, 2014 at 7:55 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: @RD_Tennistalk’s THURSDAY MATCH PICKS, @DjokerNole AND @rogerfederer AIM FOR #SHANGHAI QUARTE… http://t.co/W1VLYfueIq #…