Andy Murray will continue his quest for the year-end No. 1 ranking on Friday in Shanghai, where David Goffin is trying to surge into World Tour Finals contention. Jack Sock and Gilles Simon are also in quarterfinal action.
(11) David Goffin vs. (2) Andy Murray
Murray and Goffin will be going head-to-head for the fifth time in their careers when they battle for a spot in the semifinals of the Shanghai Rolex Masters on Friday. All four of their previous encounters have gone Murray’s way, including one on hard courts via a 6-1, 6-0 blowout last fall in Paris. They faced each other a few weeks later in the Davis Cup final on the clay courts of Belgium, where the Scot prevailed 6-3, 7-5, 6-3. Their most recent meeting came earlier this season on the red clay of Rome, where Murray got the job done 6-1, 7-5.
It has only been full steam ahead for the world No. 2 since then, with a runner-up performance at the French Open and titles in four of his last six events–Queen’s Club, Wimbledon, the Olympics, and last week in Beijing. Murray has improved to 62-9 in 2016 and 19-3 lifetime in Shanghai with routine victories this week over Steve Johnson and Lucas Pouille. Goffin, a runner-up last week in Tokyo, has advanced to the last eight by taking out Juan Martin Del Potro, Benoit Paire, and Gael Monfils. The 12th-ranked Belgian trailed Del Potro by a set and a break and Monfils by a set and two breaks. Having played so much tennis in both Tokyo and Shanghai, Goffin cannot be expected to turn the tide of his past history against Murray.
Pick: Murray in 2
Jack Sock vs. Gilles Simon
Sock and Simon will be squaring off for the third time in their careers on Friday. The head-to-head series is all tied at one win apiece; Simon prevailed 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-3 last year in Rome before Sock came on top a few months later on the indoor hard courts of Stockholm via a 7-5, 7-6(5) decision. This season has been a tough one for Simon, whose record stands at just 28-22 and has him down at 32nd in the rankings. The Frenchman is suddenly turning things around in Shanghai, however, with straight-set defeats of Pablo Carreno Busta, Di Wu, and Stan Wawrinka.
The 2016 campaign has been a stellar one for the world No. 24, who will reach the top 20 for the first time in his career if he beats Simon. Sock, who reached the fourth round of the U.S. Open, is through to the Shanghai quarters following victories over Guido Pella, Feliciano Lopez, and Milos Raonic. Sock saved two match points against Raonic on Thursday before triumphing 0-6, 6-4, 7-6(8). A much different kind of matchup against such a consistent baseliner like Simon may prove to be too difficult for the American.
Pick: Simon in 3
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