It has been a very stop and start year for big serving Karlovic, who have not really stringed a run of results together. He has lost several matches by very close score lines and the only weapon that he has on form is his powerful serve. He and Roddick serve the fastest among the tour players on the circuit and if only his return game can be more consistent, he will be a more all rounded player. Entering this Paribas Masters in France, he has lost five of his last six first round matches in all tournaments and although he did make it through on Monday, I do believe Soderling will out power him today.

Soderling has been immense all season long, more notably in the first half of the year whereby he dominated the clay court season. His ground strokes are second to none and one of the major improvements have been his usual feisty temperament. Expect the Swede to defeat Karlovic here, keeping his record of making the last six quarter finals in the tournaments he has taken part in, intact. Go for the Swede to win it in the tiebreak of the first-set, given the fact that Karlovic do win a fair percentage of his serving games.

Pick: First set Soderling win 7-6 @4.75