ATP Lyon Second Round Action: Ljubicic and Mathieu in action

Lyon , France – Former Lyon champions Paul Henri Mathieu and Ivan Ljubicic will be in second round action as the Grand Prix de Lyon moves towards the quarterfinals on Thursday. Mathieu is set to square off against compatriot Marc Gicquel while veteran Ljubicic takes on another veteran in Nicolas Kiefer.

Tennis Betting Line: Nicolas Kiefer vs. Ivan Ljubicic
Match Time: 06:00 AM Eastern Time Thursday October 29, 2009

Tennis Betting Verdict: Ivan Ljubicic takes a 3-0 all-time edge over Nicolas Kiefer into their second round encounter. However, their head-to-head has gone untouched in three year since their last meeting at the World Team Championships in 2006 when Ljubicic took a 6-4, 6-4 win.

Ljubicic, 30, is up to World No.29 and considering the depth of talent in the game today that has to be considered a good ranking for the veteran.

Ivan Ljubicic is 26-21 on the year; most recently, he is after back-to-back quarterfinal finishes in Beijing and Shanghai. In the latter event, he took out world No.9 Verdasco and world No. 14 Gael Monfils in straight sets.

Going on current form one has to give the edge to Ljubicic in this match. Especially as the ever-threatening World No. 98 Kiefer continues to struggle on the season and comes into Lyon on questionable form.

Tennis Free Picks: Ljubicic in straight sets

Tennis Betting Line: Paul-Henri Mathieu vs. Marc Gicquel
Match Time: 06:00 AM Eastern Time Thursday October 29, 2009

Tennis Betting Verdict: Paul-Henri Mathieu takes a 3-1 edge over Marc Gicquel into their second round encounter; however, the pair are dead even on the season after splitting their previous two encounters in 2009. Gicquel beat Mathieu in the last 16 at Rotterdam 6-4, 6-3. Mathieu avenged the loss in Metz, beating Gicquel in the last 16 7-6(5), 6-4.

It will be the third time the French duo meets on French soil in their careers. The two previous meetings went the way of Mathieu – Metz (2009) and Marseille (2008). The positive trend Mathieu enjoys in France would seem to give him an edge over Gicquel on home soil. It is not the only thing Mathieu has going for him. Mathieu has a significant ranking edge over Gicquel and comparing their respective seasons, Mathieu is in the positive while Gicquel is in the negative.

That said this match is a bit of a tossup. Gicquel is a handy indoor hard courter and shouldn’t be underestimated. He will make the match competitive and a real treat for fans. Nevertheless, Mathieu should win by a small margin.

Tennis Free Picks: Mathieu in three sets