An intriguing semifinal on Saturday in Kuala Lumpur will pit Feliciano Lopez against Nick Kyrgios. David Ferrer is also seeking a place in the title match as he faces Benjamin Becker.
(7) Nick Kyrgios vs. (2) Feliciano Lopez
Lopez and Kyrgios will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers and for the second time this season when they clash in the Malaysian Open semifinals on Saturday. Their only previous encounter came on the clay courts of Rome, where Lopez prevailed 6-4, 7-6(4). No stranger to success during the Asian-swing portion of the season, the 34-year-old has advanced this week with victories over Mischa Zverev and Vasek Pospisil. Fresh off quarterfinal finishes in Cincinnati and at the U.S. Open, Lopez is 29-21 on the year and registers at 17th in the world.
Off-court drama has seemed to die down for Kyrgios following a tumultuous summer and the calm after the storm appears to be paying dividends between the lines. The 41st-ranked Australian is through to the Kuala Lumpur semifinals thanks to wins at the expense of Santiago Giraldo, Tatsuma Ito, and Ivo Karlovic. Kyrgios has not dropped a single set or been broken. The competition will get stiffer in the form of Lopez, whose serve is especially effective indoors and a perfect compliment to what has been a stellar all-court game for the Spaniard the entire second half of this 2015 campaign.
Pick: Lopez in 3
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(1) David Ferrer vs. Benjamin Becker
Ferrer is eighth in the race to London and while a 250-point tournament does not present a huge opportunity, the Spaniard has a healthy lead over everyone on the outside looking in and every little value is helpful as he aims to go ahead and clinch a spot in the year-end championship. Ferrer’s trek through the Kuala Lumpur draw is off to a fine start, with straight-set defeats of Radek Stepanek and Mikhail Kukushkin. The 33-year-old is an outstanding 41-10 on the season.
Up next for Ferrer is a second career meeting with Becker. The two veterans previously faced each other five years ago at the U.S. Open, where Ferrer cruised 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Still faring relatively well at 34 years old, Becker is a decent 74th in the rankings. The German now owns 11 ATP-level match victories for the season following Kuala Lumpur wins over Sam Groth, Jeremy Chardy (7-5 in the third), and Grigor Dimitrov. Unlike Becker’s first three opponents, an extremely consistent Ferrer will make Becker play long points and eventually the underdog’s game will break down.
Pick: Ferrer in 2
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?? maybe Boris LOL haha anyways my picks r Kyrgios in 3 and ferrer in 2
Feli defeated Kyrgios 7-6(2), 7-6(5). Vamos Feli!