Day 6 at the 2016 French Open is where action will pick up on the men’s side with some highly anticipated matches that should be hotly contested. Steen Kirby and Yesh Ginsburg offer their previews and predictions. For a look at the women’s draw day 6 previews visit this link.
Panelists Predictions 2016 French Open Men’s Day 6
Gilles Simon vs. Viktor Troicki
Steen: Simon rolled over Troicki in Monte Carlo this year, and he’s never lost to the Serbian. The French pusher had to come back from two sets down in round 2, while Troicki has played a five setter of his own. The French veteran should recover quickly enough to advance in this match by virtue of steady play. Simon in 4 sets
Yesh: Picking Gilles Simon matches is always very difficult. Simon plays such a unique defensive and counterpunching style. Viktor Troicki is in good form, but I don’t think he quite has the consistency to outlast Simon. Simon in 5
Jeremy Chardy vs. Stan Wawrinka
Steen: Wawrinka has never lost to Chardy, and through the Frenchman tends to play well in slams I don’t see him threatening the Swiss #2 in this match. Wawrinka recovered from his round 1 five setter with a routine round 2 win, and the defending champion should continue to build his confidence heading into week 2. Wawrinka in 3
Yesh: Stan Wawrinka doesn’t quite seem to have his legs under him yet this season, but both of his Slam wins have come from playing himself into form during a tournament. Jeremy Chardy doesn’t have the power to overpower Wawrinka in the way that Rosol did in the first round. Wawrinka in 4
Kei Nishikori vs. Fernando Verdasco
Steen: Nishikori hasn’t lost on clay this season to a player other than Djokovic or Nadal. His dominant showing through two rounds sets him up well to easily dispatch a fading Verdasco. The veteran Spaniard has also had a solid tournament thus far, but Nishikori has superior footspeed and a higher work rate. He also should be able to get enough balls to the weaker Verdasco backhand side to win. Nishikori in 3
Yesh: Kei Nishikori looks to be in amazing form and could very well be one of the challengers to him his maiden Slam here. Verdasco could trouble him if he plays his best, but we don’t see Verdasco’s best consistently anymore. Nishikori in 3
Nick Kyrgios vs. Richard Gasquet
Steen: Gasquet is 2-0 on clay against Kyrgios, while NK won the match they played this year. The surface gives Gasquet his best chance at victory, as does the home crowds, but Kyrgios has blitzed through the first two rounds in a powerful manner, and he’s a formidable matchup. The Frenchman has also played well, and this should be a cracking contest, but I have to favor Kyrgios consistent ability to hit through the ball. Kyrgios in 5
Yesh: Nick Kyrgios is another difficult player to predict. He can play top-flight attacking tennis that would blast the too-defensive Gasquet off the court. If Gasquet finds a way to counterpunch well he can make a tough match out of this, but the matchup is not in this favor. Kyrgios in 4
Ivo Karlovic vs. Andy Murray
Steen: Murray has been terrible through the first two rounds, but he’s never lost to Karlovic (6-0), and this match is on clay. Barring an epic meltdown, you have to assume Murray, one of the best returners in the game, will control this match and advance. He still has warning signs though. Murray in 3
Yesh: Andy Murray has not had a good tournament so far. He has been way too defensive and has let his opponents dictate play. But Karlovic is not the player who can beat Murray that way. He won’t be able to break the Brit and Murray will earn some mistakes from him eventually. Murray in 3
Main Photo:
Enjoy what you read? Check out all of LWOS’ complete coverage of the 2016 French Open here.
