ATP German Open – Mathieu Takes on Troicki for a spot in semis

Hamburg, Germany –No.10 seed Viktor Troicki and No.13 seed Paul Henri-Mathieu will collide in the quarterfinals on an action packed Friday at Hamburg.

Viktor Troicki persevered over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-7(2), 6-4, 7-6(6) on Thursday to book his spot in the quarters. The World No.26 Troicki improves to 22-17 on the season. Meanwhile, Paul-Henri Mathieu edged past German wild card Daniel Brands 7-5, 7-5. Mathieu (currently ranked No. 39) reaches his first quarterfinal since May at the BMW Open in Munich.

A spot in the semis at Hamburg is on the line, who will advance?

Tennis Betting Line: Paul Henri-Mathieu vs. Viktor Troicki

Match Time: 05:00 A.M. Eastern time Friday July 24, 2009

Head-to-Head Analysis: It will be the first-career meeting between Paul-Henri Mathieu and Viktor Troicki.

Paul Henri Mathieu: Mathieu can hold his own on clay (even on other surfaces as well) but unfortunately, the Frenchman is a bit of a head case. He is streaky and inconsistent. The lack of consistency is what has held him back his entire career and kept him from climbing the ranks. It is also, what makes him an unsure play. One never knows when he might punch at his weight class or implode.

Mathieu has been into the semis only once this season, in Brisbane at the start of the year. He reached the quarters in Munich but fell at that hurdle to Youzhny.

Viktor Troicki: Viktor Troicki came into Hamburg off a mediocre clay-court season. The Serbian has had better results on other surfaces –albeit he did make it into the third round of Roland Garros. Troicki outlasted a clay-court specialist in Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the third round, a significant result.

Troicki is making his fourth quarterfinal appearance of the season. He is 1-2 so far at this level; he lost in the quarters at Auckland to Juan Martin Del Potro and at Belgrade to Novak Djokovic, and advanced to the semis in Zagreb after beating Sergiy Stakhovsky.

Tennis Betting Verdict: Mathieu was more efficient in his third round match, dispatching wild card Brands in one hour and 44 minutes, while, Troicki spent a few more hours than that taking care of Garcia-Lopez. Right there, Mathieu has a slight edge over Troicki in freshness. Mathieu also has the edge on surface; his is a better mover than Troicki and holds his own on this surface. Going against Mathieu is questionable form and a lack of confidence. His clay court swing has been a disappointment for the most part. Aside from reaching the quarters in Munich and taking a set off Federer in their third round encounter at the French Open, little else of note has he achieved. Until now that is. Might this be a turning point for Mathieu? Or will Troicki end his encouraging run at Hamburg?

Tennis Betting Free Picks: Mathieu in straight sets