In one of the most alarming weekend lineups in recent memory, three qualifiers will be in action on championship Saturday in Sydney and Auckland. The only direct main-draw entrant vying for a title is unseeded Adrian Mannarino.
Apia International: (Q) Mikhail Kukushkin vs. (Q) Viktor Troicki
It will be the first final in the history of the ATP World Tour between two qualifiers when Kukushkin and Troicki battle for the Sydney title on Saturday. Troicki has been relegated to the Challenger circuit and qualifying at ATP events after returning last summer from a year-long suspension. The 28-year-old Serb, however, will have smooth sailing into main draws for the foreseeable future. He is already up to No. 92 in the world and will register at no worse than 66th on Sunday. So far in the main draw Troicki has ousted Martin Klizan, Pablo Andujar, Simone Bolelli, and Gilles Muller.
Kukushkin’s run has been highlighted by a quarterfinal clash in which he played the villain role, knocking out comeback kid Juan Martin Del Potro 7-6(5), 7-6(3). That was preceded by scalps of Denis Istomin and Pablo Cuevas and followed by a 6-4, 6-4 win over No. 5 seed Leonardo Mayer. The 66th-ranked Kazakh is through to his third career ATP final and is looking for his second title (2010 St. Petersburg). Troicki is no stranger to this stage, either, having captured a 2010 title in Moscow in addition to four runner-up finishes.
Pick: Troicki in 3
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Heineken Open: Adrian Mannarino vs. (Q) Jiri Vesely
Mannarino and Vesely will be squaring off for the first time in their careers when the two lefties collide on Saturday in Auckland. Like Troicki and Kukushkin in Sydney, Vesely had to qualify just to get into the main draw. After successfully navigating those waters, the 21-year-old Czech defeated Thomaz Bellucci, Ernests Gulbis, Donald Young, and Kevin Anderson while losing only one set to Gulbis along the way.
Mannarino secured his spot in the final by getting the best of Federico Delbonis, Roberto Bautista Agut, Alejandro Falla, and Lucas Pouille. None of his first three opponents turned in a halfway decent showing, so judging Mannarino’s form is tough. An all-French semi with Pouille, on the other hand, resulted in a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 scoreline that needed one hour and 52 minutes to be completed. Mannarino is the more experienced player, but neither man has ever been to an ATP final. Look for Vesely’s serve and his momentum from a surprisingly easy win over Anderson to carry him to the trophy.
Pick: Vesely in 3
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