RICKY’S TENNIS PICKS FOR DAY 7 AT THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN, INCLUDING ROGER FEDERER VS. DAVID GOFFIN

Written by: Staff on 23rd January 2016

RICKY'S TENNIS PICKS FOR DAY 7 AT THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN, INCLUDING ROGER FEDERER VS. DAVID GOFFIN

epa05117934 Roger Federer of Switzerland plays a forehand to Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 22 January 2016. EPA/TRACEY NEARMY AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

By Ricky Dimon

The sweet 16 is here and the proverbial second week of the Australian Open will begin on Sunday. Kicking off the action in the top half of the draw are–among others–Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Kei Nishikori, and Tomas Berdych. Federer and Berdych are on a collision course for the quarterfinals, but they first have to score respective wins over David Goffin and Roberto Bautista Agut.

Picks:

(3) Roger Federer vs. (15) David Goffin: Goffin vs. Dominic Thiem has been one of the best matches of a mostly drama-less men’s tournament. And the Belgian needed a good one, too, because he did not play particularly well against either Sergiy Stakhovsksy or Damir Dzumhur. Federer won in four sets in the third round, as well, in a good-but-not-great showing against Grigor Dimitrov. Facing his idol for the fourth time, Goffin should be less psyched out than he was in the previous meetings. But he is 0-3 lifetime against Federer and that will be 0-4 after this one–but not before flashes of outstanding play from both guys.

Federer in 4.

(9) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. (7) Kei Nishikori: These are two of the most talented, most injury-plagued stars on tour. Tsonga (knee) was the one who dealt with physical problems during the offseason, but now it is Nishikori (wrist) who is question mark. All things being equal, this should be a good one. They faced each other at the same stage of this same tournament in 2012 and it went to five sets, with Nishikori prevailing. Aside from Nishikori’s minor injury scare against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, both men have been in stellar form through three rounds. Tsonga, who loves it Down Under, is just barely a safer pick.

Tsonga in 5.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in action against Pierre-Hugues Herbert of France during their third round match on day five of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 22 January 2016 EPA/FILIP SINGER

(24) Roberto Bautista Agut vs. (6) Tomas Berdych: I thought this was supposed to be Marin Cilic vs. Nick Kyrgios? Oh well. Bautista Agut has been on fire of late (he upset Cilic on Friday) and Berdych was too good for Kyrgios. At what point is the Spaniard’s run going to hit a roadblock? He captured the Auckland title, survived consecutive five-setters to begin this fortnight, and then ousted Cilic. With a 2-3 record against Berdych, Bautista Agut will certainly believe. But the Czech thrives at this event and his power may be too much.

Berdych in 4.

(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (14) Gilles Simon: Djokovic is dominating head-to-head series 9-1 and it is arguably even more lopsided than 9-1 suggests. That’s because the world No. 1 has won eight in a row at Simon’s expense after losing their first showdown back in 2008. Djokovic has done just enough so far in Melbourne to advance without dropping a set. When necessary, he will raise his level–and it may be necessary against Simon. Expect plenty of entertaining rallies, but Djokovic will obviously be way too good for this familiar foe.

Djokovic in 3.

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

Editors note. Agree with Ricky on all but Novak. Think his feathers are ruffled. His named was misspelled NOVACK. He didn’t like his last court assignment… Never met a tennis player that wasn’t superstitious…

Novak Djokovic of Serbia lunges for a return against Quentin Halys of France during their second round match for the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 20 January 2016. EPA/LUKAS COCH

Topics: 10sballs.com, Atp World Tour, Australian Open, David Goffin, Gilles Simon, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Kei Nishikori, Melbourne, Men's tennis, Novak Djokovic, Ricky Dimon, Roberto Bautista Agut, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Tomas Berdych