Paris Masters Tips Day Four: Fernando Gonzalez v Juan Martin Del Potro

Events / Ben Caudell / 12 November 2009 / Leave a Comment

"The stats are not good for Gonzalez who has lost five of the last six matches against players ranked in the top ten, he has also lost the last four of five matches when priced as underdog."

Can Argentina's finest lift himself out of a recent funk? Read on for Ben Caudell's views

Thursday's late night match pits two of the biggest hitters on tour against each other.

Del Potro has already qualified for the end of season World Series Finals in London and faces Fernando Gonzalez, who is still in contention for a place amongst the top-eight ranked players in the world, if he gains more points than Robin Soderling, Fernando Verdasco and Nikolay Davydenko in Paris. Although the chance of Gonzalez reaching the finals is relatively slim in comparison with the others, you can almost guarantee that the Chilean will give it his best shot against the 2009 US Open Champion.

Argentine Del Potro will also be up for this match after defeating Marat Safin in three sets yesterday and is in need of improving his recent form going into London after two shocking first round losses in his last two tournaments to Jurgen Melzer, and Edouard Roger Vasselin.

Against Safin, Del Potro showed glimpses of his Grand Slam winning ability during the third set and will be hard to break down, especially on serve.

The stats are not good for Gonzalez who has lost five of the last six matches against players ranked in the top ten, he has also lost the last four of five matches when priced as underdog.

I can see this match being won on a single break of serve and it could go to three sets. However, the Argentine has too many weapons to dispose of Gonzalez's powerful ground strokes and will relish the prospect of testing his abilities in a possible quarter-final clash with Andy Murray.

Selection: Back Juan Martin Del Potro @ [1.5] to win match