ATP Basel Quarterfinals: Gasquet vs. Chiudinelli

Basel, Switzerland – Frenchman Richard Gasquet stormed back from a set down, saving one match point, to eke out big-serving American John Isner in Thursday’s second round action and land his spot in the Basel quarters opposite home favourite Marco Chiudinelli. Gasquet closed on only his 22 win on the season with the 4-6, 7-6(9), 6-2 victory over Isner.

The Frenchman’s next opponent, Swiss wild card Chiudinelli, reached only a second ATP World Tour quarter-final of his career after defeating compatriot Michael Lammer in a three-set showdown, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Thursday. Chiudinelli edged out eighth seed Philipp Kohlschreiber in the first round Tuesday.

Head-to-head, Gasquet owns the slim 1-0 edge over Chiudinelli, having beaten the Swiss world No.76 at the 2006 US Open R32 7-6(2), 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(2).

Tennis Betting Line: Richard Gasquet vs. Marco Chiudinelli

Match Time: 08:00 AM Eastern Time Friday November 6, 2009

Tennis Betting Verdict: Richard Gasquet currently ranks No.57 in the world but the Frenchman is definitely of a higher calibre, a top 20 player to be exact. He did start the year ranked No.23 and once ranked as high as No.7 in the world (2007). However, he suffered a ranking drop off after missing a good chunk of the season on a doping suspension in the early season.

Since being reinstated on the Tour in August, Gasquet has had mixed results. He failed to qualify at New Haven. He fell in the opening round of the US Open (l. to Nadal). He put together an impressive run in Metz where he reached the semis and in Kuala Lumpur where he finished in the quarters. In Tokyo, he was a second round casualty and in Shanghai and St. Petersburg, he crashed in the first round. All together, his output combined for a 6-6 mark ahead of Basel. Overall, he is 22-14 on the season.

Marco Chiudinelli is in relatively unchartered waters in Basel. It is only his second quarterfinal at an ATP level event after emerging from the qualies in Bangkok and finishing in the quarters wherein he lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Overall, Chiudinelli is 9-11 on the season going into the quarters at Basel.

Richard Gasquet will most likely enter this matchup, as the bookies favourite but there is no doubt that Chiudinelli will be the crowd favourite. There is nothing in his, Chiudinelli, past performance to suggest he can launch a successful challenge for a spot in the semis. Yet, there is still a real possibility he can. The intangible home edge can be a huge factor in this match as the crowd will surely be behind him exclusively. Moreover, Gasquet’s stamina is something I always question. The Frenchman has a tendency to fade after intense three-setters and balk under pressure – two things that will be huge for Chiudinelli to capitalize on.

Tennis Free Picks: Chiudinelli in three sets