By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, January 20, 2015
No. 3 seed Simona Halep aims for her third trip to the Australian Open third round.
Photo credit: corleve
Each day we'll preview and predict results for four must-see Melbourne matches. Day 3 previews are here.
(20) David Goffin (BEL) vs. Marcos Baghdatis (CYP)
Court 6 (Second match)
Head-to-head: Baghdatis leads 1-0
This could be a challenging baseline test between two skilled ball strikers adept in the art of the comeback.
The 2006 Australian Open runner-up to Roger Federer, Baghdatis will try to control the baseline, take the ball on the rise and play down the line when he moves the slender Belgian. An emotionally-expressive player, the former world No. 8 enjoys rousing crowd support from Cypriot fans in Melbourne and likely will try to take the initiative at the outset and pressure the first-time Oz Open seed.
The ATP 2014 Comeback Player of the year, Goffin was at home on hard courts posting 19 of his 25 victories on hard courts last season. The son of a tennis coach, the slender Goffin is a shrewd player who compensates for his lack of power with his accuracy, anticipation and ability to take the ball on the rise. He can play finesse shots to draw opponents forward and is sharp wrong-footing the opposition. All skills he showed winning 22 of his last 26 matches last year, including a trip to the Basel final.
Baghdatis hasn't been beyond the second round in five of his last six Grand Slam appearances, but he hits the ball a bit heavier, has been a better distance player (he is 12-6 in five-set matches, Goffin is 3-3) and should see this as an opportunity match. Still, Goffin is a talented player on the rise and he is the pick here.
The Pick: Goffin in 4 sets
(22) Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) vs. Bernard Tomic (AUS)
Margaret Court Arena (Second night match)
Head-to-head: 1-1
Former Wimbledon quarterfinalists face off for the second time this month after Tomic scored a straight-sets win in Sydney earlier this month.
The backhand is the signature shot for both though they produce that stroke very differently. Tomic's two-hander down the line is a weapon, he often sets up with his slice backhand. Kohlschreiber can whip his dazzling one-handed backhand just about anywhere on the court. The 5'10" German packs some surprising sting on his first serve. Look for both men to try to pick on the forehand wing and force the opponent to hit the running forehand when stretched.
Playing his 42nd career Grand Slam, Kohlschreiber is more experienced, a more agile athlete and quicker around the court than the 6'5" Tomic. He will try to work the angles and alter the depth of his shots to stretch the 66th-ranked Aussie. The German permitted just five games in his opening-round win over Paul-Henri Mathieu, is a crafty match player and usually extremely fit.
Tomic is a tricky customer who can look disinterested, slice and softball an opponent into a false sense of security then suddenly strike with a flat backhand bolt. The Aussie's rapid-action serve — he seems to strike the toss on the rise — can be tough to read. Both have been tough in five-setters: Kohlschreiber is 14-9 going the distance, Tomic has won his last five five-setters, typically plays his most inspired tennis Down Under, takes the ball a little earlier and should be eager knowing he can pick up points after a first-round exit last year.
The Pick: Tomic in 5 sets
(3) Simona Halep (ROM) vs. Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS)
Rod Laver Arena (Second night match)
Head-to-head: First meeting
World No. 62 Gajdosova has a big first serve and isn't timid about banging near the lines. Halep has fine hands and fast feet and will try to stretch the court against Gajdosova, who is given to alternating patches of powerful and streaky play.
In the past, the Slovak-born Aussie looked burdened playing in Melbourne — she lost her first nine Australian Open matches — but should feel less stress after a solid showing in Sydney. Gajdosova beat two Top 15 opponents — Andrea Petkovic and Dominika Cibulkova — and pushed eventual-champion Petra Kvitova to three sets. Gajdosova must get off to a fast start, serve with ambition and accuracy and play with positive emotion to get the home crowd invested.
Halep's shrewd court sense, balance off both wings, and ability to abruptly change direction down the line are all assets. Halep will want to control the center of the court, make Gajdosova play plenty of balls early and avoid being pushed into defensive positions on court. If she does all that, and manages her nerve, Halep should prevail.
The Pick: Halep in 2 sets
(10) Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) vs. Roberta Vinci (ITA)
Rod Laver Arena (First match)
Head-to-head: 2-2
Veterans with varied styles face off for the fifth time.
The met three times last year with Makarova winning twice, but Vinci was a 6-1, 0-6, 7-5 victor their most recent meeting in Beijing last fall. The 45th-ranked Italian will use his slice backhand to keep the ball low and make the the 5'11" Russian scrape shots off her shoelaces. Both women know their way around net: A year ago, Vinci and partner Sara Errani edged Makarova and Elena Vesnina in the Australian Open doubles final.
Coming off her first career Grand Slam singles final at the U.S. Open, combined with the fact she's reached the Oz quarterfinals twice in the past three years should empower Makarova. The left-handed Russian can open the court with her slice serve and is comfortable Down Under: She has scored Australian Open wins over Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Ana Ivanovic. Vinci can be a maddening player to face because she can mix her spins and take off the pace to befuddle opponents. Makarova has more power and if she wields it wisely, she should advance.
The Pick: Makarova in 3 sets