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  • Estoril Open Day One Preview

    4/14/08 4:11 AM | Cheryl Murray
    - Action starts in Estoril, Portugal on Monday with Marc Gicquel, Nicolas Mahut and Ivo Minar in action.

    Martin Vassallo-Arguello vs. Ivo Minar

    Czech player Ivo Minar has had some decent results on clay in 2008. He made the quarters in Costa do Sauipe, eventually losing in three to the Italian Fabio Fognini. His opponent is Argentina's Martin Vassallo-Arguello, a clay court specialist ranked number 104 in the world. The Argentine earns a majority of his ranking points on the Challenger circuit. He has, in fact, only won a single ATP level match in 2008, a first round victory in Vina del Mar over Olivier Patience. The two men have never played each other before. Minar for the comfortable win.

    Nicolas Mahut (6) vs. Frederico Gil

    Frenchman Nicolas Mahut makes his 2008 clay court debut on Monday at the Estoril Open. Mahut's game is far more suited to fast courts than clay. He has even had some good results on hard courts in 2008. He made the quarterfinals in Marseilles, where he lost a tight match to Andy Murray. Though clay is not his most comfortable surface, he should be able to win easily. His opponent is Portugal's Frederico Gil, a wildcard entrant who is playing in his first ATP level event of the year. Mahut to win in straight sets.

    Marc Gicquel (7) vs. Boris Pashanski

    France's Marc Gicquel and Serbian Boris Pashanski have not met each other in an ATP tournament before. Gicquel has had a disappointing year so far. His best result was a win at the Challenger event in Bensancon. He had a good win over Stanislas Wawrinka at the Australian Open in the second round, but was dispatched by Nikolay Davydenko in the next round. His Serbian opponent has a dismal 1-5 start to the year. Gicquel in straight sets.

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Comments

Sory... it was easy, but for Frederico Gil as it can be seen by the result. 6-0,6-3. Next please.

perry , 4/14/08 6:36 PM


yeah Estoril isn't particularly fast when its held at this time of the year and I can just imagine Mahut looking like a sitting duck, trying to serve-volley....even against a guy who mainly plays challengers

I know Gicquel progressed but he could be another seed on the brink in next round....much more of a fast court player, game based heavily around the serve, likes to get forward

DavidC , 4/15/08 1:47 AM


Of course Mahut is dismal on clay...I just didn't think he'd be sent packing by a wildcard who doesn't even play on the main tour. Just goes to show how big a difference surface can make.

cherylmurray , 4/15/08 3:01 AM



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