RICKY’S PICKS FOR THURSDAY IN INDIAN WELLS TENNIS 2016 / BNP PARIBAS OPEN: MILOS RAONIC VS. GAEL MONFILS, AND MARIN CILIC VS. DAVID GOFFIN

Written by: Staff on 16th March 2016

RICKY'S PICKS FOR THURSDAY IN INDIAN WELLS TENNIS 2016 / BNP PARIBAS OPEN: MILOS RAONIC VS. GAEL MONFILS, AND MARIN CILIC VS. DAVID GOFFIN

epa05211803 Milos Raonic of Canada in action against Bernard Tomic of Australia during their third round match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 14 March 2016. EPA/PAUL BUCK |

By Ricky Dimon

Milos Raonic’s prospects of reaching the BNP Paribas Open quarterfinals were not particularly encouraging heading into the event. David Goffin’s chances of making a quarterfinal run looked grim at various times in the second round, the third round, and the fourth round. Nonetheless, Thursday’s action in Indian Wells will feature both Raonic and Goffin.

Raonic had been dealing with an adductor injury and had not played since losing a five-set Australian Open semifinal to Andy Murray. But it is safe to say the 14th-ranked Canadian has recovered. So far in the desert he has gotten the best of Inigo Cervantes, Bernard Tomic, and Tomas Berdych without dropping a single set.

“Would I expect,” Raonic commented, “that I was going play like this sort of after everything that’s been going on the last few weeks. Definitely not. I just sort of tried to compete and get better with each match. I have been fortunate to do so.”

Fortunate is exactly what Goffin has been this fortnight. Twice the 18th-ranked Belgian was one point away from losing his opening match to Frances Tiafoe, but he saved both match points and eventually prevailed 3-6,6-3, 7-6(2). Goffin then recovered from a set deficit to beat Guido Pella 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 before outlasting Stan Wawrinka 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(5) on Wednesday. Against Wawrinka, the 15th seed blew all of a set and 4-0 lead in the second and failed to serve out the match at 5-3 in the second and 5-4 in the third before finally staggering across the finish line.

“I think he got a bit tired and nervous, also,” the Swiss said of Goffin. “He [started] to miss easy shots; gave me the chance to come back. Two times I [came] back. I had the chance in the third set to finish it–at 5-5 to break him again. I didn’t.” But in general, he deserved to win.”

Ricky’s picks:

(12) Milos Raonic vs. (13) Gael Monfils

Raonic and Monfils will be facing each other for the fourth time in their careers on Thursday. Monfils is leading the head-to-head series 2-1, but it is tied at 1-1 on hard courts and Raonic won their most recent meeting 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the Australian Open quarterfinals. The Frenchman’s victories came indoors in Stockholm seasons years ago (6-7(6), 6-4, 6-3) and on the grass courts of Halle in 2013 (6-4, 6-2).

Gael Monfils from France in action against Albert Ramos-Vinolas from Spain during their third round match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 14 March 2016. EPA/MIKE NELSON

Monfils booked his spot in the last eight with defeats of Pablo Carreno Busta, Albert Ramos-Vinolas, and Federico Delbonis. The world No. 16 is a stellar 12-3 on the season. In what should be a high-quality contest, Raonic’s superior ability to win free points on serve should be the difference in pressure situations.

Pick: Raonic in 2

(10) Marin Cilic vs. (15) David Goffin

Goffin and Cilic just squared off for the first time earlier this month in Davis Cup action, with Goffin benefiting from home-court advantage to get the job done against the 12th-ranked Croat 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 on clay. That setback dropped Cilic to a dreadful 9-7 for his 2016 campaign, but from out of nowhere he is fine form in the desert. The No. 10 seed took care of Ryan Harrison and Leonardo Mayer in straight sets before scraping past Richard Gasquet 7-5, 5-7, 6-2.