A pair of blockbuster semifinals are on the schedule for Saturday in Stuttgart. Joining title favorites Roger Federer and Dominic Thiem in the last four are Germany’s own Philipp Kohlschreiber and 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro. Federer is facing Thiem, while Kohlschreiber is going up against Del Potro.
(1) Roger Federer vs. (3) Dominic Thiem
Federer and Thiem will be squaring off for the third time in their careers and for the third time this season when they battle for a place in the final of the Mercedes Cup on Saturday. They split their two previous encounters; Federer prevailed 6-1, 6-4 in the Brisbane semifinals before Thiem recently got revenge in the form of a 7-6(2), 6-4 victory on the clay courts of Rome. It should come as no surprise that the 22-year-old Austrian had the upper hand on the red stuff, at it has always been his favorite surface. He is coming off a semifinal showing at the French Open and has managed to maintain momentum even on grass thanks to surviving close calls in Stuttgart against both Sam Groth and Mikhail Youzhny.
Needing some match practice in advance of Wimbledon after missing much of the clay-court swing, Federer is making his first appearance at this tournament. The third-ranked Swiss is off to a solid but unspectacular start, which is understandable given that he had not played since falling to Thiem in Rome. Federer opened with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 defeat of Taylor Fritz before scraping past Florian Mayer 7-6(2), 7-6(1) on Friday. This one could be just as difficult for the 34-year-old, but on this surface he should able to exploit Thiem’s propensity to return serve from miles behind the baseline and frequently remain there for the duration of points.
Pick: Federer in 3
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(WC) Juan Martin Del Potro vs. (7) Philipp Kohlschreiber
Thanks to conservative–downright smart–scheduling, Del Potro’s 2016 comeback from another wrist injury is only getting better and better. The 27-year-old Argentine skipped the French Open but he is well-rested and off to an outstanding start on grass. So far in Stuttgart he has taken out Grigor Dimitrov, John Millman, and Gilles Simon, surrendering only one set to Simon in the process. After dropping the opener to the Frenchman on Friday, Del Potro roared back and lost just three games the rest of the way–including zero in the decider.
Up next for the former world No. 4 is an eighth career showdown against Kohlschreiber. The head-to-head series stands at 6-1 in favor of Del Potro, but they have never faced each other on grass. Kohlschreiber had been 0-6 but they just squared off on the clay courts of Munich and the 26th-ranked German cruised 6-4, 6-1. He is a stellar 23-11 for the season following straight-set wins this week over Pierre-Hugues Herbert, Denis Kudla, and Radek Stepanek. Kohlschreiber, who owns one career title on grass (Halle, 2011), has arguably been the best player over the past few days at home in Stuttgart and this may be the point in the event when Del Potro’s tank engine starts getting lower.
Pick: Kohlschreiber in 3
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WWW?
Same picks here, Fed in 3, Kohlschreiber in 3.
I’m wondering if you guys have any idea why Thiem continues to play in so many tournaments. He’s number 7 in the world and not some 60th ranked challenger anymore. Shouldn’t he rest well / conserve energy to optimize his chance at winning a masters 1000 or GS?
I’m not sure he knows any better. Common sense and sound advice would be to slow down. He’s signed up for 500 point Halle next week!!
http://www.gerryweber-open.de/Spieler/Einzel
With the agreement of his Team, maybe they are making it up as they go along? Plan to be determined later?
I can’t pick against him anymore! Thiem in 3.
Delpo in 3.
$$$? Schedules are usually set up months in advance. Thiem may not like to withdraw on short notice. Hope he doesn’t play Eastbourne as well. Federer was more than a bit rusty but Thiem played very well. Does not seem to have any weaknesses and will probably get better.
He would hate to withdraw on short notice – is my guess. And he can’t play Eastbourne because he’s committed to Halle. Halle will give Domi and Kohls as late a schedule as possible. Weather looks bad for their Stuttgart final tomorrow, tho. My concern is that he injures himself by overplaying — but I’m paid to worry about those things in the real world 😉 It’s a habit, too. I have to trust Thiem’s Team.
I’m relieved Delpo lost in the SF. The grass was wet and slick. He’s got a tough first round match in Eastbourne against Isner.
Roger “Laid Back” Federer over Dominic “Rosemary Parsely Sage and ” Thiem
Philip “Glass” Kohls over Juan Martin “I’m Drawing a Blank” Del Potro
Both straight.
Sets that is.
Juan “Dean” Martin Del Potro!!!
He’s still gonna lose tho.
Kohls too good on home grass.
Gonna go with Fed in 3. So far in this tournament the Swiss looked vulnerable, and Thiem beaten him at Rome, but that was mostly due to the back injury. Now, with the Swiss in full/almost full health Thiem’s chances are a lot lower. Still think he takes a set.
As for Kohlschreiber, Del Potro it’s really tough to predict. It’s obvious that Delpo has a lot more talent and a lot higher capabilities. His big-hitting forehand game suits grass well too (see Wimbledon 2013, his last grass court tournament before Halle). But on the other side Kohlschreiber is an amazingly solid player. I’m gonna go with what my heart says and it says Juan Martin in 3 tight sets.
surface is the key factor in Fed-Thiem. Good picks tho.
Kohl and fed in three sets
Thiem and Federer is a toss up. Though, if I had to pick, my money would be on Fed given this should be considered his best surface. Thiem has some serious momentum on his side, but I see the match in Rome as extra motivation for Roger.
As for the Del Potro v Kohlschreiber match, I think this will be the most entertaining match of the day. With home (grass) court advantage, Kohlschreiber should have the encentive to win. Del Potro really seems to have turned the corner on grass. Having watched his matches this week, and having just rewatched the Simon match, there is no comparison between his clay performance and his play on grass. On clay, he was merely weathering the storm. This week, he has been the storm. The way he disposed of Simon after losing the first set tiebreaker was nothing short of clinical. Dropping the third set bagel should send a message to the rest of the guys on tour that he is back and more than formidable on the greenery.
I’ll take Del Potro in 3 sets with a second set tiebreak.
That does it for me. Thiem is it ? 😀
So I’ve been Conductor of the Dominic Thiem Hype Train. Anyone else like to host on board? Lol
Hop*
All the seats on that train are taken. Standing room only from now on 🙂
It’s okay, I’m in high demand on bandwagons and hype trains lately. Although Domi’s is looking like The ONE to be on for the future.
Kudos Thiem. He is going from strength to strength.
well strength to weakness. But he’s still winning.
Ricky
When will we have the predictions for the finals?
Lol, Roger was playing at half his capacity and it was still a three setter with Roger having 2 MPs.
In reality, it wasn’t a great match. Thiem has a really long way to go, even assuming he becomes the only young gun to fulfill his potential in recent times.
Can’t believe Fed managed to lose this match! He came back from 5:1 and Thiem serving for the set to level it and lost in the tie break?! Gosh, that reminds me of Rafa losing his matches when he clearly should have won! I hope Fed gets better than this! I have big hopes for him at Wimby!
5-0 to be exact
I don’t
Fed is at half capacity every time he loses. Every fedfan knows that.
Was one point away from getting both right but fed blew it twice lol.
Congrats to me on being almost peRFect like fed!