Tennis News

An all-French match-up is set to take place in the semi-final stage of the Open Sud de France on Saturday evening, as defending champion Gael Monfils and two-time finalist Richard Gasquet clash for the twelfth time on the professional tour. Monfils leads the Head-to-Head series 7-4 and will look to extend that lead further with another win over his fellow countryman.

Watch the semi-final match here: Monfils v Gasquet Live Stream

Seeded fourth at the tournament, Richard Gasquet barely broke a sweat in his straightforward encounter against Denis Istomin on Friday. The Frenchman defeated the sixth seed 6-2, 6-4 in 61 minutes to ease his way into the semi-final stage in Montpellier.

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A two-time consecutive finalist at the tournament, Gasquet is pleased with his performance and anticipates an exciting clash against the defending champion.

“It was a good match for me,” said Gasquet. “I’m happy I won in two sets and that I’m now into the semis. I need to play a lot of matches to be confident again; I feel better and better.”

Unlike his fellow countryman, Gael Monfils had a somewhat difficult time on court against qualifier Steve Darcis, whom he defeated 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. The contest lasted 1 hour and 44 minutes and saw the Frenchman scramble to save three break point and advance to the semi-final.

“He had a great start of the match and he imposed his rhythm,” said Monfils. “It took me some time to get used to it.

“I still feel sick; I’m physically weak. I hope it will stop soon, and I hope I can have a good night of sleep.”

This marks the twelfth time these two competitors will meet on the professional tour, with Monfils leading the head-to-head series 7-4. Monfils has not looked his best this week but seems to get the better of his countryman in their recent tussles. It will be interesting to see if Gasquet can take advantage of Monfils’ weakened state.

Prediction: Gael Monfils in Three Sets

Following impressive showings on Friday afternoon, Jerzy Janowicz and Joao Sousa are scheduled to take part in a berth that will determine who will advance to the Open Sud de France final. This marks the third time that these two competitors will meet on the professional tour, with Janowicz leading the series 2-0.

Watch the SF here: Janowicz vs Sousa Live Stream

Seeded fifth at the tournament, Jerzy Janowicz worked his way past local star Gilles Simon to advance to the final four in Montpellier. He defeated Simon 6-2, 7-5 in a match that lasted 1 hour and 16 minutes, and marked his first semi-final appearance since last August.

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“Definitely I played my best match of the season,” said Janowicz. “Today, I knew I had to play my best tennis because Gilles moves incredibly well on the court. He also reads the game so well and he’s one of the best returners in the world. I knew I had to be focused on my serve all the time. I did that and I was playing aggressive throughout.”

Janowicz’s semi-final opponent will be Joao Sousa, who defeated German third seed Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-6(5), 6-4 to set up the encounter. The 49th ranked Sousa saved 10-break point attempts to upset Philipp. The seventh seed has now put on his best performance at a tournament since last September in Metz.

“Philipp is a very good player and we played a very good match,” said Sousa. “I didn’t serve well, but I played really well and I had very good defence. This is my best match in the tournament so far.”

This is set to be the third time that Janowicz and Sousa meet on the tour, with the Polish no. 1 leading the series 2-0. Janowicz beat Sousa in Valencia two years back and in three sets at Winston-Salem in 2014. Given his performances so far this week in Montpellier, he will remain the favourite in their third encounter.

Prediction: Jerzy Janowicz in Three Sets

This weekend features an exciting array of match-up in the first round of the Fed Cup tournament, and they will include a slew of stars that will look to help their respective countries advance to the following round. Ahead of the opening round, the ITF released the draws and match-ups for World Group and World Group II.

Four Zone Group events are also taking place this week: Europe/Africa Zone Group I in Budapest, Hungary (4-7 February); Americas Zone Group I in San Luis Potosi, Mexico (4-7 February); Asia/Oceania Zone Group I in Guangzhou, China (4-7 February); and Europe/Africa Zone Group II in Tallinn, Estonia (4-7 February).

World Group First Round

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Canada vs. Czech Republic
Venue: PEPS, Quebec City, CAN (hard – indoors)

Francoise Abanda (CAN) v Karolina Pliskova (CZE)
Gabriela Dabrowski (CAN) v Tereza Smitkova (CZE)
Gabriela Dabrowski (CAN) v Karolina Pliskova (CZE)
Francoise Abanda (CAN) v Tereza Smitkova (CZE)
Gabriela Dabrowski/Sharon Fichman (CAN) v Denisa Allertova/Lucie Hradecka (CZE)

Italy vs France
Venue: 105 Stadium, Genoa, ITA (clay – indoors)

Sara Errani (ITA) v Caroline Garcia (FRA)
Camila Giorgi (ITA) v Alize Cornet (FRA)
Sara Errani (ITA) v Alize Cornet (FRA)
Camila Giorgi (ITA) v Caroline Garcia (FRA)
Roberta Vinci/Karin Knapp (ITA) v Kristina Mladenovic/Pauline Parmentier (FRA)

Poland vs. Russia
Venue: Krakow Arena, Krakow, POL (hard – indoors)

Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) v Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)
Urszula Radwanska (POL) v Maria Sharapova (RUS)
Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) v Maria Sharapova (RUS)
Urszula Radwanska (POL) v Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)
Klaudia Jans-Ignacik/Alicja Rosolska (POL) v Vitalia Diatchenko/Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)

Germany vs Australia
Venue: Porsche Arena, Stuttgart, GER (hard – indoors)

Angelique Kerber (GER) v Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS)
Andrea Petkovic (GER) v Samantha Stosur (AUS)
Angelique Kerber (GER) v Samantha Stosur (AUS)
Andrea Petkovic (GER) v Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS)
Julia Goerges/Sabine Lisicki (GER) v Casey Dellacqua/Samantha Stosur (AUS)

World Group II First Round

Netherlands vs. Slovakia
Venue: Omnisport Apeldoorn, Apeldoorn, NED (clay – indoors)

Kiki Bertens (NED) v Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK)
Arantxa Rus (NED) v Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK)
Kiki Bertens (NED) v Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK)
Arantxa Rus (NED) v Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK)
Richel Hogenkamp/Michaella Krajicek (NED) v Magdalena Rybarikova/Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK)

Romania vs. Spain
Venue: Danube Arena, Galati, ROU (hard – indoors)

Simona Halep (ROU) v Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP)
Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) v Garbine Muguruza (ESP)
Simona Halep (ROU) v Garbine Muguruza (ESP)
Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) v Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP)
Alexandra Dulgheru/Monica Niculescu (ROU) v Lara Arruabarrena/Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP)

Sweden vs. Switzerland
Venue: Helsingborg Arena, Helsingborg, SWE (hard – indoors)

Rebecca Peterson (SWE) v Timea Bacsinszky (SUI)
Johanna Larsson (SWE) v Belinda Bencic (SUI)
Johanna Larsson (SWE) v Timea Bacsinszky (SUI)
Rebecca Peterson (SWE) v Belinda Bencic (SUI)
Sofia Arvidsson/Susanne Celik (SWE) v Viktorija Golubic/Xenia Knoll (SUI)

USA vs. Argentina
Venue: Pilara Tennis Club, Buenos Aires (clay – outdoors)

Paula Ormaechea (ARG) v Venus Williams (USA)
Maria Irigoyen (ARG) v Serena Williams (USA)
Paula Ormaechea (ARG) v Serena Williams (USA)
Maria Irigoyen (ARG) v Venus Williams (USA)
Tatiana Bua/Nadia Podoroska (ARG) v Taylor Townsend/CoCo Vandeweghe (USA)