Kei Nishikori is going up against Jarkko Nieminen on Saturday for a place in the Kuala Lumpur final. Meanwhile, Ernests Gulbis and Julien Benneteau are facing each other for the third time this season.
(1) Kei Nishikori vs. Jarkko Nieminen
Nishikori currently registers at eighth in the world and sixth in the race to London, so he has a real chance at a World Tour Finals berth as he heads into the Malaysian Open semifinals on Saturday. Japan’s top player has done well to maintain momentum from an emotional run at the U.S. Open, where he finished runner-up to Marin Cilic. Nishikori opened with a 6-2, 6-3 rout of Rajeev Ram before crushing Marinko Matosevic 6-3, 6-0 on Friday.
Up next for the No. 1 seed is Nieminen, whom Nishikori has never faced. Nieminen advanced to the last four by scoring straight-set victories over Philipp Oswald, Leonardo Mayer, and Pablo Andujar. The 33-year-old Finn is 25-23 for the season and comes in at 57th in the world. This should be a good matchup for Nishikori, who will almost always have an edge in strictly ball-striking battles–and Nieminen’s serve is not good enough to turn this match into anything else.
Pick: Nishikori in 2
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(4) Julien Benneteau vs. (2) Ernests Gulbis
Gulbis and Benneteau will be going head-to-head for the fourth time in their careers and for the third time this season. Somewhat surprisingly, Benneteau has won all three of their previous encounters. The Frenchman was up two sets at the 2010 French Open when his opponent retired. He then prevailed 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 this year in Miami (saved one match point) and 7-6(4), 6-3 a few months later at the Rogers Cup.
Still in search of his first ATP title (0-9 lifetime in finals), Benneteau has finished runner-up in Kuala Lumpur the past two seasons. The world No. 28 is back in the semis following wins over Filip Krajinovic and Pablo Cuevas. Gulbis has advanced by taking out Philipp Petzschner and Benjamin Becker. The suddenly-consistent Latvian is up to 13th in the world, but Benneteau has his number and the fourth seed is a proven force at this particular event.
Pick: Benneteau in 3
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Gulbis in 3.
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Well called Ricky except he outplayed the erratic Ernie in straight sets.
Poor Julian, this has to be yet another final that will allude him…………..
Niemenen will give him a good match, but you’re right, his serve is just not good enough. Gulbis should beat Benneteau….should!
Benneteau certainly seems to have Ernie’s number. So, it’ll be Benneteau vs Nishikori in the final. I really like Kei and normally I would want him to win, and I think he will anyway, but I’d also like to see Benneteau get at least one singles title before he retires. At 32, he won’t have many more chances.
This will be his 10th chance. What’s to say he won’t have many more? You can vulture 250 point events well into your mid 30s in this day and age.
Agree with above. There are many factors at play for the Final. I think it will depend on how Benneteau handles the pressure and how much Nishikori wants this title. Since he is prone to injuries he may want to save himself for Tokyo.
Benneteau with a good chance