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2/4/10 2:48 AM | Ricky Dimon
David Ferrer and Gael Monfils will contest their second-round matches in Johannesburg on Thursday. Ferrer is up against Filip Prpic while the night session features an all-French showdown between Monfils and Josselin Ouanna.
(Q) Filip Prpic vs. (2) David Ferrer
Two days after scoring his second career ATP match win, Prpic will look for a his biggest victory when he faces Ferrer in the Johannesburg second round on Thursday afternoon. The 27-year-old Swede, who is ranked 316th in the world and obviously had to qualify to get into the main draw, dismissed Ivan Navarro 6-3, 7-5 in his opener. Ferrer, however, is a far more formidable Spaniard. The world No. 18 is a former No. 4 player in the world and he owns a whopping 293 more ATP match wins than Prpic. Ferrer reached the semifinals of this event last season and even though he does his best work on clay, he is a solid all-court player. Look for Ferrer to end Prpic's impressive week in easy straight sets.
(1) Gael Monfils vs. Josselin Ouanna
Monfils and Ouanna will be meeting for the first time at the ATP level when the pair of athletic, 23-year-old Frenchmen goes head-to-head in the Johannesburg second round on Thursday night. They did, however, face each other once on the Futures tour, with Ouanna prevailing 6-4, 6-3 back in 2003. Monfils, of course, has taken off since then, now registering at No. 13 in the world. Ouanna has really made a name for himself over the past 12 months, but he is still toiling at 121st in the rankings. Both men scored straight-set victories in the SA Open first round on Tuesday, Monfils over Dominik Hrbaty and Ouanna at the expense of Harel Levy. Ouanna can keep this one close, but Monfils should need just two sets to advance.
Somdev Devvarman vs. Thiago Alves
Prior to Ferrer and Monfils stealing the show, Devvarman and Alves will open Thursday's action on Centre Court as they square off for the first time in their careers. Ranked 28 places behind his opponent at No. 162 in the world, Devvarman pulled off a convincing 6-4, 6-2 upset of Xavier Malisse on Tuesday. Alves beat Oleksandr Dolgopolov, Jr. in three sets for only the seventh ATP-level victory of his 10-year career. This should be an entertaining battle between two baseline grinders, but Devvarman--who finished runner-up at the ATP event in Chennai last year--is more accustomed to the bigger stages of tennis and that could make the difference. Devvarman in three sets is the pick.
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not so much.....but he did well to get seven games!!!
thats more than Alves got against Devvarman!
RickyDimon , 2/4/10 4:42 PM
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Filip Prpic for the upset. Ferrer can't hurt him.
croc , 2/4/10 10:48 AM