Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are one round away from a blockbuster title match in Dubai. They first have to get past Tomas Berdych and Borna Coric, respectively, on Friday.
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (4) Tomas Berdych
Djokovic and Berdych will be squaring off for the 20th time in their careers when they collide in the semifinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Friday. At least statistically, Berdych’s struggles against Djokovic are even more significant than the well-documented problems he has endured against Rafael Nadal. Djokovic is dominating the head-to-head series with the Czech 17-2, including a perfect 15-0 on hard courts. They faced each other twice last fall, with the Serb cruising 6-0, 6-2 in Beijing and 6-2, 6-2 at the World Tour Finals.
If there is any good news for Berdych, it is that he remains one of the most consistent players on tour. The world No. 8 is 15-3 this season with two runner-ups, a semifinal at the Australian Open, and wins this week over Jeremy Chardy, Simone Bolelli and Sergiy Stakhovsky. Whereas Berdych needed three sets twice, Djokovic advanced to the last four by easing past Vasek Pospisil, Andrey Golubev, and Marsel Ilhan. Nothing suggests Berdych will be able to make this one particularly competitive.
Pick: Djokovic in 2 losing 8 games or fewer
[polldaddy poll=8685011]
(LL) Borna Coric vs. (2) Roger Federer
It is good to be lucky, but it is even better to be good; Coric has been both this week in Dubai. After losing a qualifying match to world No. 350 Fabrice Martin, the 18-year-old Croat got a lucky-loser spot in the main draw. His good fortune continued in round two when Marcos Baghdatis retired during a third-set tiebreaker due to cramps. Coric’s run also includes a three-set victory over Malek Jaziri and a stunning 6-1, 6-3 quarterfinal upset of Andy Murray.
Up next for Coric is a first-ever meeting with Federer, who is a six-time champion in Dubai and boasts a 45-5 record overall at the tournament. The 33-year-old Swiss will be extremely well-rested after sprinting past Richard Gasquet 6-1 in their opening set on Thursday before getting a retirement from the Frenchman. Federer previously earned routine scalps of Mikhail Youzhny and Fernando Verdasco. Building on such a big win will be an almost impossible task fort Coric against an opponent like Federer.
Pick: Federer in 2 losing 8 games or fewer
[polldaddy poll=8685026]
Wow Fed and Nole Top 2 hard court all time greats. Will be a tight match in the final. Will be nice to see some good tennis for a change.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B-3IjGjW8AAV0By.jpg:large
@TennisTV
#Djokovic destroying #Berdych out there. 5-0 (triple break) and he’ll serve for the bagel. #DDFTennis
BOOM! Gluten-free BAGEL!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B-3JdHHWsAAi0Ea.jpg
#CreamCheese?
#DubaiYou???
https://instagram.com/p/zmKHaigR5F/
https://instagram.com/p/znChDIt9tJ/
GSM Nole.
Federer has won the last three ATP meetings on a fast hardcourt against Djokovic.
Look for that trend to continue in the final with the mental edge being the difference
Federer in two tight sets is the pick.
[polldaddy poll=8688241]
For once I wish you were right like when you pick popsicle.
No better way to have tenngrand go silent than Dedole winning on the same day.
Sometimes silence is golden.
https://instagram.com/p/znWjmBRp9Y/
#DubaiYou???