A blockbuster semifinal lineup is on hand in Brisbane. The top four seeds are all safely through to Saturday, with Roger Federer set to face Grigor Dimitrov and Kei Nishikori going up against familiar foe Milos Raonic.
(1) Roger Federer vs. (4) Grigor Dimitrov
Dimitrov has never defeated the man whose game he tried to emulate throughout his formative tennis years, if not still to this day. He will get a third shot at Federer on Saturday in the Brisbane International semifinals. The second-ranked Swiss has won a pair of meetings on the indoor hard courts of Basel; 6-3, 7-6(2) in 2013 and 7-6(4), 6-2 last fall.
Federer and Dimitov have taken similar paths to the last four. The top seed trailed John Millman 6-4, 3-1 in his opener before prevailing and then destroyed James Duckworth 6-0, 6-1. Dimitrov saved two match points in his second-round match against Jeremy Chardy, which the 23-year-old Bulgarian survived 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(8). He proceeded to ease past Martin Klizan 6-3, 6-4 on Friday. Based on their past history, Federer’s hunger for a first-ever Brisbane title, and his performance against Duckworth, Dimitrov could be in trouble.
Pick: Federer in 2
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(3) Milos Raonic vs. (2) Kei Nishikori
Nishikori and Raonic did not play each other until May of last season, but the matchup still emerged into one of 2014’s best rivalries. The head-to-head series stands at 4-1 in favor of Nishikori, who won three of their four meetings this past year. Only one of their five showdowns has ended in straight sets, but even that one resulted in a 7-6(5), 7-6(5) decision (Nishikori won last spring in Madrid). They most recently collided in the Tokyo final, taken by the hometown Japanese star 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4.
Raonic was scheduled to get another crack at Nishikori at the World Tour Finals, but he withdrew prior to their round-robin clash due to a thigh injury. The eighth-ranked Canadian just barely managed to make this Brisbane semifinal a reality. After taking care of Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3, 6-4, Raonic outlasted Sam Groth 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-6(2). Nishikori got past Steve Johnson 6-4, 7-5 then destroyed Bernard Tomic 6-0, 6-4. The world No. 5 will be a trendy pick in this one based on his current form, but the Brisbane surface is playing particularly fast. That should help Raonic, who fired 32 aces in his first two matches and is serving close to 70 percent for the week.
Pick: Raonic in 3
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federer in 3, nishi in 3
federer in 2, nishi in 2.
Ricky, you waaaay overvalue Raonic continually.
He’s good but Kei is better and has his number going undefeated h2h 3-0 hard court (two in Tokyo).
Tokyo plays traditionally “faster” than Doha.
Just like he continually over-values Djokovic when he plays Rafa?
#Rhetorical
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Ferru in three.
There’s nothing i like more than answering rhetorical questions!
If Ricky had picked Djokovic over Rafa the last 5 times they played he would have been right 4 times…..
skill
If Ricky had picked Rafa over Djokovic the last 5 times they played in Slams he would have been right 4 times…..
and im sure i did, since most of those were at the French
#Skill
https://tenngrand.com/2013/09/09/u-s-open-final-expert-picks-djokovic-vs-nadal/
Ricky was the only one of four “experts” to pick Nole over Rafa at the 2013 USO.
#DoYou???
good. they aren’t playing in Doha.
Tokyo and Brisbane are traditionally about the same “speed” wise. Very close actually and Nishi beat Raonic twice there so I doubt court speed will be a factor any more than their other matchups.
Raonic not playing in Tokyo will help
A stopped clock is right twice a day.
#DoYou???
I think Nishikori will bag this. Could well go to three if Raonic serves well again. I would’t read too much into serving stats racked up against Groth though…must be the worst returner in the top 100! Nishikori was ludicrously good for what was his second match of the season against Tomic. 7-6, 6-4 is my prediction. Fed 6-3, 6-7, 6-2.
Indeed. 1 u.s open apiece and 3 French for Rafa. Would be very brave/ foolish to go against him in Paris (though I actially think I might have done last year!)
“1 u.s open apiece and 3 French for Rafa.” Huh???
Rafa has 2 US Open titles to Djokovic’s 1, both of Rafa’s titles coming at Djokovic’s expense.
My comment was in response to one of Ricky’s about the last 5 matches those two had contested at grandslams. Why is everything anyone who isn’t a die hard Rafa fan says on here jumped on as some attack on the great man or turned into a competition which he always has to win?!
Createdsick, is the true, for sure, no?
here is the conversation:
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
rafaisthebest says: January 9, 2015 at 5:56 pm
Just like he continually over-values Djokovic when he plays Rafa?
#Rhetorical
createdsick says: January 9, 2015 at 7:01 pm
There’s nothing i like more than answering rhetorical questions!
If Ricky had picked Djokovic over Rafa the last 5 times they played he would have been right 4 times…..
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
The last 5 Slams Rafa and Novak played included only 1 USOpen (which Rafa won) so where do you get the “1 US Open apiece” thing? The last 5 matches they played did not include a single US Open, so what are you talking about?
No, you do not have the courage to admit your mistake so you bring up the “I am being attacked” card, when in fact you are being corrected??
If you post a falsehood about Rafa you will be corrected. I am sure Novak fans, Fedfans or any other players’ fans would do the same.
ps: Rafa comes out on top in most important competitions, even against Novak. We Rafans do not need to “big” him up, he does that on his own, on court.
#rhetorical
Thank you, Ricky…………..
#Diplomat
Createdsick
Get used to it. There’s a reason this site has only had the same 5-6 consistent posters for more than 2 years and the community has never grown. LOL, the first time I come here in months and see nothing’s changed.
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Raonic vs Nishikori………they are going the distance.
Because……….
Congrats to Ricky.
ANOTHER GAME FOR MILOSH!!!!
#GetFed
i’d like to take this opportunity to thank myself
Dimitrov only got 4 games against Fed, did he even turn up, I did not watch the match? And this guy says he is aiming for Top 5 this season, who exactly is he going to displace?? And btw, Muzza’s charging back up into his right slot in the Top 4!
Well done Ricky.
And yes, Dimitrov put up a rather shameful performance.
http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2015/01/grigor-dimitrov-aiming-top-5-then-no-1/53564/#.VLD1SE39nIU
“Perhaps with an eye on the No. 1 ranking, Grigor Dimitrov says he will attempt to crack the Top 5. ”
Only if TMZ is dishing out the ranking points, Grisha………………
Dimitrov, the new Wawrinka.
#CryBabyFed
#WhosYourDaddy
From Roger’s interview after the match:
“I was able to play straightforward tennis, like yesterday, just really aggressive,” said Federer. “Against a really good player, it’s a great result. Happy I didn’t waste much energy like this. I’m fresh for the finals. Probably got a slight advantage over Milos in that regard.”
.”…happy I didn’t waste much energy…” LMAO.
#fact
“Get used to it. There’s a reason this site has only had the same 5-6 consistent posters for more than 2 years and the community has never grown. ”
This is where we, Tenngranders, curl up into a ball of guilt. Not.
this site has been operational for more than 2 years?
that’s news to me!
snowdevil says:
January 11, 2015 at 2:24 am
—There’s a reason this site has only had the same 5-6 consistent posters for more than 2 years and the community has never grown.—
Hundreds of Fedfans have SECRETLY come to vote on this site.