Hamburg SF previews and picks: Ferrer vs. Zverev, Kohlschreiber vs. Mayer

Three veterans are being joined by one surprising youngster in the Hamburg semifinals on Saturday. David Ferrer is going up against 17-year-old Alexander Zverev, while Philipp Kohlschreiber is facing Leonardo Mayer.

(1) David Ferrer vs. (WC) Alexander Zverev

Prior to this week’s bet-at-home Open, Zverev had never won a match at the ATP level (0-3 lifetime). The 17-year-old German has suddenly won four, treating the crowd to a memorable semifinal run. He has defeated Robin Haase, Mikhail Youzhny, Santiago Giraldo, and Tobias Kamke, dropping just a single set to Kamke (by a 6-0 scoreline) in the process. Zverev’s opening scalp of Haase was a 6-0, 6-2 rout. He registers at 285th in the world right now but will climb to somewhere around No. 160 even if he loses on Saturday.

Up next for Zverev is Ferrer, whom the youngster has obviously never faced. The 32-year-old Spaniard earned a first-round bye as Hamburg’s top seed then booked his spot in the semis by winning three-setters against Mikhail Kukushkin and Andreas Seppi before blowing out Pablo Andujar on Friday. Ferrer, who will be at No. 6 in the rankings on Monday, is a solid but unspectacular 36-13 on the season. Zverev has a big game, but he stands at 6’4” and inevitably has not had time to work in an elite way on his physicality and foot-speed. His movement is by no means poor, but it will be exposed by Ferrer–as will his court positioning. Nearing the end of a taxing week both emotionally and physically, Zverev will likely run into far too big of a roadblock in the form of Ferrer.

Pick: Ferrer in 2

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(7) Philipp Kohlschreiber vs. Leonardo Mayer

Kohlschreiber and Mayer will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers and for the third time on clay. Mayer has won both of their previous encounters; 7-6(5), 7-6(4), 7-5 at the 2012 French Open and 6-4, 7-6(4) last year in Kitzbuhel. In outstanding form right now, Mayer is suddenly nearing U.S. Open seed position with plenty of room to spare. The 46th-ranked Argentine advanced two rounds at the French Open (lost to Rafael Nadal), made it to the last 16 at Wimbledon, and so far in Hamburg he has not dropped a set in victories over Peter Gojowyczk, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, Dominic Thiem, and Dusan Lajovic.

Something will have to give in this one, because Kohlschreiber has also been unwilling to surrender a single set. The 26th-ranked German’s trip to the semis featured wins at the expense of Gastao Elias, Gilles Simon, and Lukas Rosol. Kohlschreiber, who is almost always at his best in the friendly confines of his own country, is 29-16 for his 2014 campaign. Count on a high-quality contest, but Mayer is peaking at the moment, has to be confident in this particular matchup, and will have no pressure and nothing to lose as a clear underdog on paper.

Pick: Mayer in 3

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